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BOOKS BY 

CARLISLE B. HOLDING. 


"CASH!" OR, NUMBER NINETEEN. A Story of Real Life. 


i2mo $o 90 

HER-BEN; A TALE OF ROYAL RESOLVES. 

i2mo I 00 

PETER THE PREACHER ; or, Reaping a Hundred-fold. 

i2mo 1 25 

REUBEN, A PRINCE IN DISGUISE. i 00 

i2mo 


REUBEN 


A PRINCE IN DISGUISE 



CARLISLE B. HOLDING 

AUTHOR OF 

^^Green Bluffs''' Hundred-fold^" Cash ; or^ Number 19 ” 



NEW YORK; HUNT ^ EATON 
CINCINNA TI: CRANSTON STOWE 
1890 



Copyright, 1890, by 
HUNT & EATON, 
New York. 




CONTENTS 


CuAPTER Page 

I. A Princely Purpose 5^ 

II. Making Haste to be Rich 16 

III. Finding Friends 28 

IV. A Day of Disappointment 41 

V. Light Out of Darkness 50 

VI. Learning Lessons Not in the Books 62 

VII. Some Well-Laid Plans Defeated 74 

VIII. The Nutting Party 89 

' IX. A Sabbath-Day’s Journey 116 

X. Some Clouds with Silver Linings 129 

XL Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver 143 

XII. A Dream that was Not All a Dream 156 

XIIL Good News From Over the Sea . 170 

- XIV. Surprised and Captured 184 

XV. Reuben’s Father Makes a Discovery 199 

XVI. Joy Cometh in the Morning 214 

XVII. Reuben’s Rough Ride 226 

XVIIL Gathering Strength for Better Endeavors 241 

XIX. Finding A Better Way 254 

XX. A Good Name is Better Than Great Riches 267 

XXL The Child of a King 281 

XXII. The Dawning of a Better Day 295 

XXIII. The Beginning of the End 311 



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REUBEN: 

A PRINCE IN DISGUISE. 


CHAPTER 1. 

A PRINCELY PURPOSE. 

** School commenced to-day, mother,” said Reu- 
ben Ricketts, putting down the pail brimming full 
of rich milk on the table, where his mother was 
clearing the supper dishes. 

“ I guess not, Reub. Who told you ? The teach- 
er was here last week to get board, and he said 
first Monday in October.” 

** Not that school, mother. That’s nothing. I 
mean the seminary at Shackelford.” 

“Are you still thinking about going there? I 
thought you had given it up long ago ? ” 

“ Thinking about it ! Why, mother, I dream 
about it ! — and this morning, when I went to work, 
I could almost hear ‘the bell calling me.” 

“Hear a school-bell fifteen miles, Reub?” said 
Mrs. Ricketts, smiling. 

“ Not really, mother ; but I imagined it. Could 
you get along without me here? May I go?” 


6 


Reuben. 


“ My son,” said Mrs. Ricketts, earnestly, “ I am 
more than willing for you to go, but I must see 
what your father says about it.” 

“Tell him I will not ask him for a cent. I will 
walk every step of the way. Fifteen miles isn’t 
much. I have walked farther than that many 
times hunting rabbits. May I go to-morrow? ” 

“ I don’t know whether I can get your clothes 
ready to-morrow, Reub, but I think myself the 
sooner you get off the better for you and for him. 
He calculates you will be glad enough to come back 
to the old farm in about a week. He says a boy 
that has been riding around hunting cattle in the 
woods, and gathering nuts down in the pasture, 
and — ” 

“ He thinks I will come back and give up the books, 
does he? Well, mother, you know Reub, and you 
know he has lots of the Griffith blood in him. Did 
you ever know a Griffith to give up when he had 
set his head to do a thing? Remember, mother, 
you are a Griffith yourself.” 

“That is so, my son, and I am glad of it. The 
Griffiths in their day were a sensible and a learned 
people. Many of them were teachers in great 
schools, some of them have been authors, and away 
back they came from kings. After all, it is a good 
record. 

“ Some of them,” said Reuben, his face aglow 


A Princely Purpose. 


♦ 

7 

with enthusiasm, “ are queens now, and I will show 
you some more of them are to be princes.” 

“ I know one, at least, that is proud enough to 
be a prince,” his mother answered with a smile; 
“ but be that as it may, it will be a funny sight to 
see a prince walking to school with a carpet-bag 
in his hand ! ” 

“ So it will, mother ; but better that than running 
away from school, and this prince — if that is what 
you mean — has just royal courage enough to do 
that very thing when that is the only way to get 
there.” 

“ I believe you,” said Mrs. Ricketts, her own face 
reflecting the glow that burned in Reuben’s cheeks 
as he leaned on the table and watched his moth- 
er’s movements in cleaning the dishes. “ Had you 
not better go down to-morrow and make arrange- 
ments,” she continued, “ and then come back for 
your things, before you go to stay? You may ride 
old Dolly, the bay mare.” 

“ No ; father wants to use Dolly to-morrow. Be- 
sides, when I go I want to stay ; then there will not 
be two good-byes to say.” 

“ Well, I will talk to your father, and if he says 
‘ yes ’ I will get your clothes ready to-night. There 
will not be much to do to them.” 

“Good! good! To-morrow will see me on my 
way to school. Happy day ! ” and in the exuberance 


8 


Reuben. 


of his joy Reuben sprang to his feet and danced 
around on the floor at a rapid rate. 

“ Be quiet, my son,” said Mrs. Ricketts, gently, 
tears of sympathy dimming her eyes ; “ your father 
has not said ‘ yes ’ yet.” 

“ Never mind ^his father,’ Nancy,” called a voice 
from the adjoining room. “ I have heard all you 
said. You thought I was asleep in my chair, but I 
wasn’t. He may go; but, mind you, he goes on his 
own hook. If he wants an education he can have 
it just like I got this farm — by working for it.” 

“ Thank you, father, thank you,” called Reuben 
back, “ that is all I want — just your permission 
to go.” 

“That is all you need expect. You have that.” 

“ But, father,” suggested Reuben, “the books — ” 

“ Get books the best way you can, or do without. 
I will advance no money. Haven’t any to spare on 
such foolishness,” said Mr. Ricketts, rather impa- 
tiently. 

He settled down in his easy-chair before the 
glowing fire on the hearth and fixed his head com- 
fortably to take his customary after-supper nap be- 
fore he retired for the night. 

“ Never mind the books, Reuben,” said his 
mother, cheerfully, as she noticed his distress at 
the very literal interpretation of his willingness to 
work his way through school. “ I have some 


A Princely Purpose. 9 

money saved to buy me a new dress. You shall 
have that.” 

“ May I borrow it ?” said Reuben quickly. I do 
not want to take it from you, mother.” 

“ No, you cannot borrow it. It shall be yours, 
every cent of it ; and then you will have all too 
little.” 

“ But, mother, your dress — ” 

“No matter about the dress. That was only a 
whim. I do not need it.” 

“ The Lord must be in this, mother, or father 
would not have said ‘ go ’ without any one asking 
him,” said Reuben, accepting his mother’s decision 
as final about the money. 

“ That’s like your grandfather Griffith for all the 
world,” said Mrs. Ricketts. “He was always find- 
ing the hand of the Lord in unexpected blessings.” 

“Then I came by it honestly?” 

“You did, and, my son, let me say — it is my 
parting advice — do not forget to pray ! ” 

That is more than his mother had ever before 
said to Reuben by way of religious instruction. 
The act of prayer was unknown in their home, so 
far as outward sign was concerned. They had all 
gone regularly to the monthly preaching services 
in the school-house, but they had never kneeled 
together in prayer, nor had either of them ever 
been seen by the others to bow in prayer. 


10 


Reuben. 


“ I don’t believe much in prayer,” said Reuben, 
softly, “ unless a fellow works lots.” 

“ ‘ Faith without works is dead,’ is what the 
preacher preached about last Sunday, you know,” 
said his mother; “but, dear me, your grandpa 
Griffith would no more go to work mornings with- 
out family prayer than he would *a ^gone without 
his breakfast ; not a bit more. And — ” 

“ May be that is what makes you so good,” inter- 
rupted Reuben, taking his mother’s hand while she 
consciously blushed at his simple compliment, which 
she knew sprang from a heart full of love for her. 

“And somehow, my son, I have thought, maybe 
you are to be like your grandpa,” she said, finishing 
the remark he had interrupted. 

“ Let me get an education first,” he said. 

“ ‘ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wis- 
dom,’ ” replied his mother, surprised herself at the 
readiness with which she quoted Scripture. 

Together they sat in silence a few minutes beside 
the dying fire in the kitchen stove, the mother’s 
work having been done. A new era had dawned. 
They both felt it. Reuben suddenly had ceased to 
be simply a hard-working farmer-boy. In his moth- 
er’s eyes he had been transformed into a brave, no- 
ble, and companionable spirit. In Reuben’s thought 
his mother was now, more than ever, a kind, patient, 
cheerful and self-sacrificing wife and mother. Her 


A Princely Purpose. ii 

thoughts ran back to her girlhood days, her early 
aspirations for an education, her early marriage to a 
man much her senior in years, their removal from 
the eastern home, the years of loneliness, the com- 
ing of Reuben to their home, his growing likeness 
to her father, and now the manifestation of some 
traits of that noble father’s character. Reuben’s 
mind was busy with the things to come : the walk of 
the morrow ; the school ; the lessons learned ; pro- 
motion, and graduation. 

“ What books I have I had better take, I guess,” 
said Reuben, musingly. 

“ Not all, my son, they are so heavy; but there 
is one I want you to carry — your Bible.” 

“ But I haven’t any ! ” 

Take mine ; it is old, but good yet. When I was 
a girl at home I read it through. My father gave 
it to me when I was ten years old. I have it yet. 
That was thirty-five years ago.” 

“ It might get lost if I take it,” said Reuben. 

‘‘You might get lost without it,” said Mrs. 
Ricketts. 

Reuben knew the import of the remark, but he 
chose to mistake his mother’s meaning. 

“ Me get lost from here to Shackelford ! Have 
you forgotten how many times I have come back 
from there in the night when I took grain to mar- 
ket ? I know every foot of the way in the dark.” 


12 


Reuben. 


“ No, not lost between here and Shackelford, but 
between here and heaven. David says, ‘ Thy word 
is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’ ” 

“ Why, mother, when did you learn so much 
Scripture ? ” 

When I was at home we would learn by heart 
a whole chapter every Sunday.” 

“ Every Sunday ! ” repeated Reuben, in astonish- 
ment. “ What awful Sundays you must have 
had ! ” 

“ I thought so, too, then ; but since I have had 
so much to do and so many trials I am glad I could 
go about my work and repeat over and over to my- 
self the passages I learned when a little girl.” 

Reuben remained silent a few minutes and then 
said : “ It is like learning a rule at school. When 
you know it by heart you can just go to work and 
get your examples easy, for you remember all along 
just what the rule says.” 

“ Don’t you want to grow up to be a good man ?” 
asked Mrs. Ricketts. 

“ Of course, mother. I have a pretty good start, 
haven’t I ?” he said, with a good-natured twinkle in 
his eye. “ I have been living with you for about 
sixteen years.” 

“You are as nice a young man as I know; but 
speaking of rules reminded me that in the Bible is 
a pretty good rule for a man to learn. It says: 


A Princely Purpose. 13 

* Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way ? 
By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.’ ” 

“ I will take the book, mother, but I would rather 
hear you talk than to read it.” 

“ Well, promise me that you will read just a little 
of it every night before you go to bed.” 

“You may depend upon that, mother, just for 
your sake.” 

“ Your other books you may sort out, and I will 
put in what you think you must have. You may 
get up just as early as you w’ant to in the morning. 
I will be ready for you.” 

“ I do not feel now that I want to sleep any to- 
night. I am as happy as I was w'hen I had my first 
pair of red-top boots.” 

“Your first and your last pair,” said his mother, 
laughing. 

“How’s that? Didn’t I ever have but one 
pair ? ” 

“Only one pair with red tops. You wanted the 
tops to show, and took a pair of scissors and cut off 
the bottoms of your new pants I had just made. 
Your father didn’t say much, but I never could get 
him to even ask the price of boots with red tops 
after that.” 

“ It does not seem that I would do any thing like 
that. I remember the boots, but cannot recollect 
the pants.” 


14 


Reuben. 


I bave the boots yet, in that big old chest up- 
stairs, but the pants went into a carpet that is gone 
now,'’ said his mother. 

“ I hope I will get through school and do some- 
thing that will make father forget that I was so silly 
and vain — and so wasteful.” 

“ O, he has forgotten it long ago. I thought it 
was smart in you and told him so. He bought you 
the boots, and what are red tops for if not to be 
seen ?” Mrs. Ricketts said, with a smile of approval. 

“ What did he say to that? ” said Reuben. 

“ He said you ought to have sense enough to stuff 
your pants into the boot tops. But I told him 
you knew nothing about that, as he always wore 
shoes.” 

“ Was I a very bad boy when I was little ? ” asked 
Reuben. 

“You! Dear me, no ! You never had time to 
be bad. It has always surprised me that you lived, 
for your father kept you at work from daylight to 
dark. If it wasn’t driving up the cows it was feed- 
ing the pigs ; if it wasn’t bringing in wood it was 
shelling corn for the chickens.” 

“ But that wasn’t helping you ! ” 

“ Well, when you got a little bigger you would 
come out in the kitchen with me after work was 
over and supper was done, and while your father 
slept in the big chair you would wipe dishes for me 


A Princely Purpose. 


15 

and put the chairs up, and sometimes help me get 
supper.” 

Reuben knew all this as well as his mother did, 
but that evening he enjoyed having her tell him 
about his past faithfulness, for his heart troubled 
him a little as he thought about going away and 
leaving all the farm work for his father to do. 

“ Father is getting old, mother; perhaps I ought 
not to leave him,” he said, thoughtfully. 

“Yes, he is getting old, and he is able to hire 
help ; but he won’t, I know. Never mind that, 
Reub. I will do a little more.” 

“You, mother!” he said, in astonishment, re- 
membering that she was the first up in the morning 
and the last to go to sleep at night. 

“Yes. I can milk, and do a great many little 
extras that you do now.” 

“ Well, mother, if I was going away to have fun 
and an easy time I would feel ashamed ; but I am 
not. I am going to work hard, and to study hard, 
so I can some day give you a chance to take a great 
long rest, and have nothing to do but to be glad I 
am your son.” 

“Isn’t it about bed-time?” called Mr. Ricketts, 
from his easy-chair. 

From without came a voice, shouting, “ Hello, 
the house ! ” 


Reuben. 


i6 


CHAPTER II. 

MAKING HASTE TO BE RICH. 

“ See who’s thar,” said Mr. Ricketts, starting up 
from his chair. 

In an instant Reuben was at the door holding a 
candle above his head that its light might fall upon 
the face of the stranger. His father joined him, 
and in his hearty style called out : 

“ ’Light, stranger, and come in.” 

It was a part of Mr. Rickett’s religion to turn no 
one away from his door without entertainment, for, 
strange as it may seem, a text he had heard at church 
in early life made such an impression on his mind 
that it became a guiding rule of his life ever after- 
ward ; and there is some ground for suspecting that 
his practice of the precept was the outgrowth of a 
selfish nature : “ Be not forgetful to entertain stran- 
gers, for thereby some have entertained angels un- 
awares.” Such was his rule, and he was always 
looking for angels among those who received his 
benefits. Up to this time he had not recognized any. 

“ Can I get lodging for myself and horse ?” asked 
the stranger. 


Making Haste to be Rich. 17 

‘‘You are welcome to such as we have. It aint 
oncommon good, but if we can stand it all the time 
you can a night, I reckon.” 

The stranger did not hesitate, but before the re- 
mark was concluded was out of his vehicle, waiting 
for further instructions about his horse. 

“ Take the stranger’s horse, Reub, and put it in 
the stable ; put down hay, and throw in plenty of 
oats. Put the harness in the shed, and back the 
buggy under shelter.” 

While Reuben was getting his hat the stranger 
was unloading his baggage, which consisted of sev- 
eral parcels, and, with the help of Mr. Ricketts, 
transferred all of it to the kitchen. 

“ I ’low you have had supper, stranger ? ” said 
Reuben’s father. 

“ No, my friend, I haven’t. I lost my way and 
missed my supper. I was hunting for Jacob Rick- 
etts. What might your name be ? ” 

“Ricketts — Jacob Ricketts. I guess you’ve 
struck the right place. But your name ? I don’t 
know as I ever met you.” 

“ I dare say not. Leastwise, I do not just re- 
member it. My name is Stauffer — Isaac Stauffer, 
And so you are Jacob Ricketts ! That’s monstrous 
queer. I thought I had missed my way and lost 
my supper, but I guess not. You are Jacob and I 

am Isaac.” 

2 


i8 


Reuben. 


“ What might your business be ? ” asked Mr. 
Ricketts, not understanding the stranger’s allusion 
to the names Jacob and Isaac. 

“ Well, that is a long story, and you may not be 
ready to hear it all ; but I will say this, my present 
business is to make people rich and farmers’ wives 
happy. In short, I am a public benefactor, doin’ 
what good I kin, and makin’ a living as I go along 
through this vale of tears. I have had many ups 
and downs in this mundanious sphere, but I cal- 
■ kerlate I am getting up right at the present time, 
and I must say I enjoy it. You see my head is get- 
ting white with the frosts of many winters, like 
yours. Farmer Ricketts, though I dare say I am 
older than you by ten years or more. I know what 
it is to farm, to lose crops by drought, to have cat- 
tle die of murr’in and hogs with the chol’ry, to see 
my hard-earned money slip out’n my hands for bad 
debts. I know what it is to sell groceries and get 
swamped by bad customers and swindled by a lyin’ 
pardner, and all that ; but now, thank Goodness, 
I’m on the up grade, and have the sat’sfaction of 
doin’ good and makin’ money too. I could tell 
you — ” 

“ Supper is ready,” said Mrs. Ricketts, quietly, 
having quickly placed the food on the table while 
the stranger was washing his face and telling Mr. 
Ricketts about his good and bad luck. 


Making Haste to be Rich. 19 

You’re ’n oncommon spry woman, Mrs. Rick- 
etts, to get such a supper on so short a notice.” 

“ It was no trouble. The coffee was already on 
the stove,” she said, simply. 

“ Fm most powerful hungry. I had an ’arly din- 
ner, and it wasn’t much to brag on, nuther — not as 
set ’longside of this.” 

Reuben came in and continued his talk with Mrs. 
Ricketts while the stranger and Mr. Ricketts carried 
on an animated conversation, only parts of which 
Reuben heard. When the supper was over the two 
men retired to the sitting-room, leaving Reuben and 
his mother alone to perfect the arrangements for 
the next day. They both hoped his father would 
relent, and furnish the money to take him through 
one year’s course at the seminary. 

“ Reub, come here ! ” called his father. “ This 
gentleman wants you to do some ciphering for him,” 
his father explained as Reuben entered the room. 

Yes ; I will give you the figures, and you can 
calkerlate so your father will know it’s all right. 
But here, let me show you the machine. Friend 
Ricketts, before we go any further.” 

Saying this, he led the way to the kitchen and 
untied a big sack, from which he took the machine, 
talking glibly the meanwhile. The family gathered 
around him, much interested in the novelty. 

“ This here churn is a fortune to any one who 


20 


Reuben. 


runs it right ; to the man who buys and the man 
what sells. It will make more butter out of less 
milk, and do it cheaper and easier and cleaner and 
steadier, than any churn that was ever invented by 
man or woman. Two minutes will bring the butter 
to the surface ; three minutes will gather it in a 
lump ; four minutes will make it solid as rock ; five 
minutes will put it in the crock. A gallon of cream 
in this churn will yield fifty per cent, more butter 
than the same amount in the old way.” 

He talked this off at such a rapid rate, and so 
much more correctly than his ordinary conversa- 
tion, that it was evident he had committed it to 
memory. 

“ Now, my son,” he said to Reuben, “ bring me a 
gallon of water and I will show you how the thirlg 
works.” 

The water was brought and poured into the 
churn. Mr. Stauffer put in the fixture, and turned 
a crank, which made the dash inside whirl at an as- 
tonishing rapidity, causing the water to foam and 
roar in a miniature whirlpool. 

“ Now, you can readily see that such a commotion 
as that would take butter out of skimmed milk. 
Indeed, I have seen buttermilk taken out of the 
common churn and put into this, and give up as 
much butter in ten minutes as had been taken in an 
hour before in the old way. Now for the figgers.” 


Making Haste to be Rich. 21 

Reuben brought his slate and pencil and put 
down the figures as the -stranger gave them to 
him. 

“ Put down the cost of the churn, seven dollars 
and fifty cents. Set that by itself. Now, say you 
churn three times a week in the old way and get 
three pounds of butter each time, how much is that 
a week for butter?” 

“ Nine pounds,” said Reuben, without hesi- 
tating. 

“Just so; but set it down. That’s it. Now 
with this churn you can make one half as much 
ag’in. How much does that come to?” 

“ Four and one half pounds,” said Reuben. 

“ Correct ag’in. Now at twenty cents — but say 
fifteen, ’cause I don’t want to take any ’vantage in 
this here business, for the figgers are all on my 
side anyhow — say fifteen cents a pound; that’s 
how much ? ” 

“ Sixty-seven and a half cents,” said Reuben, 
without delay. 

“That’s it. You’re an oncommon smart boy. 
But le’s throw off the odd cents and say sixty for 
short. That’s a week, mind you; just one week. 
Now for a year, how much is it ? ” 

After a moment’s calculation Reuben said : 
“Fifty-two weeks in a year; sixty cents a week; 
thirty-one dollars and twenty cents.” 


22 


Reuben. 


“ Correct ag’in. I declare to goodness, Mr. Rick- 
etts, your boy is the peartest lad I have come across 
in many a day.’* 

“ Don’t you think he knows enough without go- 
ing away to school ? ” asked Reuben’s father. 

“ Beyond all doubt he does. What good is an 
education except to prepare for business? He’s 
prepared now. I dare say many a man what’s 
got rich in business did not know half he does 
this blessed minute when they started in. But, 
as I was saying, thirty-one dollars and twenty 
cents — but throw away the twenty cents, and just 
take the thirty-one dollars ; that is a leetle over the 
cost of four churns ! Think of that ! Four churns 
made in one year. Seven dollars and fifty cents in- 
vested and thirty dollars made ! That beats farmin’. 
Why, your land is worth thirty dollars an acre if it’s 
worth a cent. If you can clear seven dollars and 
fifty cents off ’n acre in a year, you’re doin’ mon- 
strous well ; now, aint you ? ” 

“Yes, I would be glad to make half that clear,” 
said Mr. Ricketts ; “ and my land is worth sixty 
dollars an acre.” 

“ Course you would ; ^ny one would,” said Isaac 
Stauffer. “ Now, every man, woman, and child in 
the neighborhood — well, not quite that many, but 
every woman what’s got a cow, anyway — would buy 
one of these churns. That’s settled, now. She 


Making Haste to be Rich. 23 

would be a fool not to when she could make thirty 
dollars a year by it.’' 

Each one examined the churn critically, turned 
the crank himself, and set the water dashing and 
breaking into foam ; and all seemed pleased except 
Reuben’s mother. She shook her head doubt- 
fully, but said nothing. The machine was set aside, 
and the stranger returned to his place by the 
fire in the sitting-room followed closely by Mr. 
Ricketts. 

“ Of course you will buy a churn — when you get 
a chance to — but I am not selling churns ; I haven’t 
time for that. I own the right to make this churn 
in all this State. I am selling county rights to 
good, honest, industrious men what will do the 
fair thing by the people and not disgrace the busi- 
ness. Now, le’s see what a man can make out ’n 
the traffic. The churn sells for seven fifty. The 
cost of it is about this : The castin’s — those iron fix- 
in’s — can be bought for six cents a pound. Enough 
for one churn will weigh about five pounds: that’s 
thirty cents. Got it down ? Well, the tub or churn 
— the wooden part — can be bought in quantities for 
seventy-five cents per tub or churn. Put that un- 
der the other. That’s it. Now the inside doin’s — 
those fixin’s what ketches the milk as it flies around 
— will cost, countin’ the puttin’ of them in, about 
eighty cents ; but to be on the safe side say ninety- 


24 


Reuben. 


five cents. Put that down and there you are. How 
much, my lad ? ” 

Reuben smiled and said, Two dollars.” 

“ Correct ag’in. Two dollars. Now you take 
two dollars from what you get fur a churn and you 
have five fifty left; but throw away the fifty and 
say five dollars, for even figgers. Five dollars ! think 
of that. If a fellow could sell but one a day he 
would make a handsome thing in a year.” 

Mr. Ricketts was much interested in what the 
stranger said, and leaned forward to catch every 
word. The stranger needed no urging to go on ; 
for he saw how completely he had his host in his 
power. He paused a moment, to allow Mr. Rick- 
etts time to digest what he had said, and then con- 
tinued : 

Now, I reckon this county haint got no less nor 
twenty-five thousand inhabitants; that’s the way I 
find the figgers here,” he said, examining a book 
that contained the returns of the previous census ; 
“ and I guess we may count on five thousand 
families ; but throw away, say three fifths, three 
thousand families, and that will leave two thou- 
sand families, and every one of them will buy 
this here churn. Now, you make five dollars a 
churn ; that will be ten thousand dollars in this 
here county. There is a fortune for some one. 
Who’ll it be? I can’t say. Friend Ricketts, I 


Making Haste to be Rich. 25 

thought you might point out the fellow for me, and 
so I came to you, seein’ you knowed every body 
hereabouts. I want some good farmer-lad, or farm- 
er, what’s not got his heart set on to a-plowin’ and 
a-reapin’ at a dollar a day and boardin’ himself, 
when he could just as well have ten and somebody 
to board him ; for I ’low any man kin sell two o’ 
them air churns in a day. Can you point him out 
to me. Friend Ricketts?” 

Mr. Ricketts dropped his head a moment in 
thought, and then said, hesitatingly and in embar- 
rassment, “Could an old man work it?” 

“Soilin’ churns, do you mean? None better. 
Gray hairs means ’sperience, and ’sperience tells. 
The older the better, exceptin’ he mustn’t be too 
old.” 

“No-o; I should think not too old,” said Mr. 
Ricketts. 

“ The purtiest team is an old man to plan and 
manage, and some young fellow to skip around and 
sell. That’s the pair to draw to, alius.” 

“ Ye-e-s, I suppose you are right. The best way 
would be to have a — a — fact’ry somewhere in town.” 

“Well, as to that I can’t say. Now, here’s a 
plan,” the stranger said, taking a circular from his 
pocket and handing it to Mr. Ricketts to read. 

He handed it back, saying his eyes hurt him so 
badly he could not read it. The fact is he could not 


26 


Reuben. 


read. The stranger read it for him, explaining as 
he read. 

Mrs. Ricketts and Reuben the meanwhile were 
busy with preparations for the coming morning. 
Occasionally they passed through the room where 
the two were talking. As they did so they heard 
enough to give them a pretty clear idea of the bar- 
gain made between Mr. Ricketts and his guest. 
For the right to make and sell the churns in that 
county Mr. Ricketts agreed to pay the stranger six 
hundred dollars cash, and another six hundred dol- 
lars when the first one hundred churns had been 
sold. Reuben’s quick ears caught the part of the 
contract in which he was to be the salesman, and 
with a throbbing heart told his mother of his fear 
that his father would withdraw his consent to his 
going to school. 

“ It is too bad ! ” said his mother, sympathetic- 
ally. “ There is that big lot of money going to the 
stranger, for what ? For nothing ; and you must 
'Walk to school and go empty-handed. I hate to say 
it, Reub, but I think that this time your father has 
entertained no angel from above.” 

After discussing their business plans until mid- 
night Mr. Ricketts and the stranger retired to bed. 
The one dreamed of the fortune he was going to 
make ; the other lay awake to gloat over the roll 
of bills he already had secured from the farmer, and 


Making Haste to be Rich. 27 

the note good for as much more. If the dawn of 
day should bring a change of purpose or desire to 
the farmer, no power could wrest his gains from the 
stranger. 

Mr. Ricketts awoke with a start and sprang from 
bed when a ray of sunlight darted through the half- 
closed blinds and fell full on his face. While pull- 
ing on his pants he opened the stairway-door, as 
was his custom, and called excitedly, 

“ Reuben ! O, Reub ! ” 

Receiving no reply to his call, he remembered 
how late it was, and said, half to himself, “ He’s at 
the stable, feeding.” 


28 


Reuben. 


CHAPTER III. 

FINDING FRIENDS. 

More than an hour before Mr. Ricketts awoke, 
Reuben and his mother had stood in the door-way 
exchanging parting words. 

“ Just the price of a churn ! ” said Reuben, as his 
mother placed in his hand five silver dollars, a fifty- 
cent piece, and a two-dollar bill. 

I wish I could give you the price of a churn — 
the price that has just been paid for one. That 
would take you through three years at school. This 
is all I have now.” 

‘‘ Do not worry about me, mother. This is more 
than Benjamin Franklin had when he started in life. 
I will never be as great as he was, but I can be as 
brave, I believe.” 

“ Well, good-bye, my darling,” said his mother, 
embracing him heartily. “ I hate to see you go, 
but it is best you should start before your father 
awakes. He may change his mind.” 

Bid him good-bye for me, and say I will come 
back in the spring and make up for lost time.” 

If you should see any one from here in Shackel- 


Finding Friends. 


29 


ford this week, send word how you are doing. Now, 
good-bye! You must go. I will watch for you on 
the hill over there. It will be light enough for me 
to see you then. Let me hug you once more. 
Don’t forget the book. Good-bye 1 ” 

When Reuben paused on the hill, fully two miles 
from home by the road he traveled, but not more 
than half that in a direct line, he looked back and 
saw his mother standing in the door-way, her figure 
plainly outlined in the twilight by the fire that 
burned on the hearth behind her. He waved his 
hat and she answered by a flutter of her handker- 
chief. He threw a kiss from his finger-tips and she 
returned the salutation in kind, for the rising sun 
behind him made every movement plain to his 
mother’s quick eye and quicker heart. The light of 
home and the light of heaven combined to make a 
picture on each mind that no lapse of years could 
ever efface. 

More than a dozen miles stretched away before 
him, and he entered upon the task of traversing 
them with a buoyant heart and a courageous spirit, 
cheered by the hope of being overtaken by some 
team and wagon going his way. No such help came 
to him, and he wearily trudged into Shackelford, 
dragging his carpet-bag with apparent effort, allow- 
ing it to thump his legs and roll from side to side, 
changing it from hand to hand as he walked. 


30 


Reuben. 


Shackelford did not look to him now, as he walked 
along its streets, as it did when he drove into the 
town on a load of grain going direct to the elevator. 
Then he felt an independence he could not now 
command. His face was red with heat and soiled 
with the dust of the highway. He knew this, and 
the knowledge of it made his face redder with shame 
than with heat. His clothing was not in the latest 
style, and was more begrimed than his face. He saw 
boys about his own age hurrying home to dinner 
from store or office or school, laughing, jumping, 
running, as though life was an endless song. They 
were fresh, clean, and gay ; he was tired, dirty, and 
wretched. He imagined that a large part of their 
mirth was provoked by his untidy and grotesque 
appearance. 

At length the main street was reached. He hesi- 
tated before entering its busy throng. For a mo- 
ment he stood undecided, and then with a sigh 
turned about and deliberately began to retrace his 
steps, determined to spend the rest of his days on 
the farm and say no more about a college training, 
nor even a term at the seminary. He had gone a 
-square homeward when he stopped short and said, 
half aloud, “ Reuben Ricketts, is this you flying 
from the field before a gun is fired ? ” His face took 
on a deeper hue as he confronted himself with his 
cowardice, and he again found his way to the main 


Finding Friends. 


31 


street, wandering aimlessly along. He came to the 
post-office. “ Here,” he said to himself, “ I can 
rest awhile and no one will dare question me.” 
Making a stool of his tightly packed carpet-bag he 
sat down in the post-office lobby to rest, mopping 
his perspiring face with a big red handkerchief, 
and fanning with his broad-brimmed straw-hat ; for 
though a September day it was a very warm one, 
as though August had come back to see how the 
world missed her. 

He rested and cooled off, and his courage returned 
and grew every minute when he noted that while a 
constant stream of people poured in one door and 
out the other very few of them noticed him, and 
none mistreated him by either word or look. 

Presently there came in a gentleman who attracted 
Reuben’s attention as soon as he passed the thresh- 
old of the lobby. His face was radiant with good 
humor. He was neatly and almost elegantly at- 
tired, though his clothing was subdued in color and 
plain in style. As he advanced he bowed to every 
one with a smile, and greeted many with a hearty 
shake of the hand. For a moment his eye rested 
on Reuben, and he half stopped as he nodded and 
cheerfully called, “ Good-afternoon ! ” The unex- 
pected greeting surprised Reuben so much that he 
failed to respond, but it emboldened him to speak 
to the gentleman as he should pass out with his 


32 


Reuben. 


mail. Providentially, as he returned, a friend 
stopped him right at Reuben’s elbow and said : 

Ah, professor ! Does school open well ? ” 

“ Never better, thank you ; many new pupils en- 
rolled and more coming.” 

The words startled Reuben. Who the professor 
was he did not know ; but he hoped he could tell 
him about the seminary he wished to enter. Reach- 
ing out his hand he touched his arm, and said, 
“ May I trouble you, sir?” 

“Certainly; what can I do for you?” said the 
professor. 

“ I want to go to school. I walked from home 
this morning. I am a stranger here, and woi^ld like 
to ask how to get in, if you could tell me.” 

“ Glad to see you, Mr. — What is the name, 
please ? ” 

“ Ricketts— Reuben Ricketts.” 

“ Glad to see you, Mr. Ricketts. I will cheerfully 
assist you. Have you a boarding-place selected?” 

“No, sir; I have done nothing but to come.” 

“ I hope you will find that that is the best day’s 
work that you ever did. Come with me and we 
will see what can be done.” 

Reuben picked up his carpet-bag and followed 
Professor Johnson as he briskly led the way to the 
seminary, of which he was principal. The little rest 
he had obtained and the encouraging manner of the 


Finding Friends. 


33 


principal greatly invigorated Reuben, and he stepped 
along more lively than he could have supposed pos- 
sible an hour before, after his long and dusty walk 
— having had no dinner but the luncheon he had 
brought from home in his pocket. 

The seminary grounds were very handsome, and 
to Reuben appeared a fairy land. A broad path 
extended from the street to the entrance of the 
building. Along each side of this path were flower- 
beds that made continuous lines of beauteous and 
fragrant plants. Beyond the beds the green and 
closely cut grass presented a sward of velvety ap- 
pearance. In the midst were shapely trees, the 
foliage gorgeous in the early autumn tints. Reuben 
felt himself a trespasser on such grounds. 

Passing through the corridor, where young ladies 
and young gentlemen strolled leisurely, waiting the 
assembly bell to call them to study, the principal’s 
office was reached. Professor Johnson at once 
filled out the admission ticket and handed it to 
Reuben, saying, “ Five dollars, please.’' He did 
not notice the surprised look of the new-comer, 
for he had quickly turned to his desk to put away 
some papers. When he faced Reuben again the 
two-dollar bill and three silver dollars lay in his 
hand for the principal to take. Reuben’s sorrow 
that so much of his little fund was gone was quickly 

followed by gladness that his mother had been so 
3 


34 


Reuben. 


thoughtful and self-sacrificing as to make him take 
what money she had for him. 

“ Now, there is the Grove House, where many 
young men, students here and clerks in the stores, 
are boarding. They pay five dollars per week.” 

Reuben shook his head doubtfully. 

“ Perhaps you would prefer a quieter place,” the 
principal continued, his eye having taken a rapid 
survey of Reuben’s attire and general make-up ; 
“ if so, there is — but now I have it ! Why did I not 
think of that before? I can direct you to a home 
where you will be received as one of the family, and 
I think, but do not know positively, that you could, 
if you wished, pay part of the board in work ; that 
is, if you care to do that. Of course, unless you 
want to you — ” 

O, but I want to ! ” said Reuben quickly, feel- 
ing the hot blood rush to his face under the quick- 
ening thought that his hope of working his way 
through school was about to be realized. 

Do you? Well, you sit here until I come 
again, and we will see about it.” 

The principal left, to ring the assembly bell and 
to see that all the teachers were in their places, and 
returned after a short absence, and with Reuben 
went to the home he had mentioned. They stood 
at the door of a modest but very pretty cottage, 
situated in a yard beautiful with trees and flowering 


Finding Friends. 


35 


shrubs, and very inviting in every respect. Reuben 
felt that he was in a new world. He had never be- 
fore been surrounded by such refinement and love- 
liness. He was not ill at ease, but rather rejoiced 
as one returned to his natural element. He was glad 
he had been able to come out of the hum-drum life 
he had always known, and find a home where his 
soul could dwell in congenial surroundings. Often 
had his mother made beds for pretty flowers, only 
to see their opening buds trampled under feet by 
favored horse or cow, for their door-yard was past- 
ure for sheep or cattle or horses. 

“ Mrs. Bard, this is Reuben Ricketts. He wants 
to find boarding, and would be glad to do some 
work mornings and evenings, if you can accommo- 
date him,” said Professor Johnson when Mrs. Bard 
had admitted them to her parlor. 

“Well, I don’t know; I am afraid he would not 
find it pleasant here, for baby has been very sick 
this week, and I am hardly able to do the work for 
an extra member of the family, and — ” 

“ Please, ma’am, I will not mind that,” said Reu- 
ben, “ if you can let me stay.” 

There was something in his frank face and evi- 
dent sincerity that cause Mrs. Bard to say, 

“ Very well ; we can try it a week and see how it 
suits all around.” 

Reuben was shown to his room, and was soon 


36 Reuben. 

settled as far as he knew how to settle. He un- 
packed his carpet-bag, piled up his few books on 
the little table, hung up his extra clothing, and then 
sat down to rest. He really did not know whether 
he ought to stay in that room or voluntarily go 
back into the room where Mrs. Bard sat. To en- 
gage his mind he looked over his books, and patient- 
ly waited for some intimation of what he should do. 
He did not wait long; for Mrs. Bard came to his 
door and asked him to come to the sitting-room 
where she was rocking the baby. 

“ I have no girl to help me, and Mr. Bard does 
not get home from the store until late, so it will be 
some time before we have supper ; would you like 
a luncheon, or have you had dinner?” 

“ I do not need dinner,” said Reuben, not caring 
to tell his new friend how hungry he really was ; for 
while she smiled pleasantly, and seemed very cor- 
dial, even Reuben’s untrained eye detected lines of 
fatigue about her mouth and a look of weariness 
in her face. 

By artful questioning, in a little while she had 
drawn out the story of his life and a hint at the am- 
bition he had to educate himself. When an hour 
had passed she was so favorably impressed that she 
accepted his offer to take the baby in her carriage 
around the yard for a little airing. He improved 
this opportunity to become acquainted with the 


Finding Friends. 


37 


premises, the meanwhile carefully rolling the car- 
riage so as not to awaken the baby, as she was 
sleeping quietly. 

Reuben was surprised at the ease with which he 
did the work undertaken, though that was the first 
time he ever had had the care of an infant child. 
His only instruction in that direction was his ex- 
perience in helping his mother care for the lambs 
when the spring rains and sleety winds had over- 
taken them. When he re-entered the house Mrs. 
Bard was also asleep in her easy-chair, taking the 
rest she had so much needed for several days. 
Reuben carefully removed the wraps from the 
baby’s face and sat down to wait further instruc- 
tion. The baby cried softly. 

“Yes, my darling!” said Mrs. Bard, starting 
from her chair the instant she heard the plain- 
tive call. 

“ Have I been asleep? How could I ! ” she ex- 
claimed, remembering Reuben’s presence. 

“ How could you help sleeping when you had a 
chance, after so many days’ watching with baby?” 
said Reuben, glad he had so soon found a way to 
show his willingness to reciprocate every kindness 
shown him. 

It was quite dark when Mr. Bard came home. 
He entered the house and was surprised to find 
his wife and the baby watching for him. 


38 


Reuben. 


“ She is better ! ” he exclaimed, gleefully, looking 
at the cradle and then at his wife. 

“Yes; I think she is much better,” said Mrs. 
Bard. 

He played with the baby a minute or two, and 
really provoked a smile from her thin little lips, the 
first for many days. 

“ Well, I will start the fire,” he said, wearily. “ Is 
there any wood cut, do you know?” he continued, 
putting on his working-jacket, “ or shall I have to 
cut some first? ” 

“ My dear,” said his wife, “ the fire is started, and 
I guess there is wood enough for the night.” 

“ That’s clever in you ; but you must not do such 
work. The baby needs all your strength.” 

His wife followed him to the kitchen, the baby 
in her arms, and knowingly smiled as he turned in 
astonishment from the wood box piled high with 
wood, while the fire glowed brightly and the kettle 
sang cheerily. 

“A tramp? ” he abruptly questioned. 

“ Yes, a tramp.” 

“ God bless that tramp, if no other,” he said, 
opening the pantry door to get the pail to milk the 
cow. 

“ The cow has been milked and the pig fed,” said 
Mrs. Bard, gayly. “ Now you sit down here and 
hold the baby while I rnake the tea.” 


Finding Friends. 


39 

''Did the tramp do it all?” he asked, incredu- 
lously. 

" Every bit of it.” 

" Did you give him any thing to eat ? ” 

" Not yet ; he said he would be here for supper, 
though,” replied Mrs. Bard. 

"The scamp! He must be a tony fellow. But 
he w'ont come, will he?” 

" He said he would, and you see I have laid a 
plate for him.” 

"You wouldn’t let him eat with us, surely, 
Mattie,” said Mr. Bard in surprise. 

'‘Yes; unless you positively say 'no,’ for he is 
nice and clean, I assure you.” 

" May be he is, but I will never believe it until I 
see for myself. I never saw a clean tramp yet.” 

Reuben’s room adjoined the kitchen, separated 
therefrom by a thin board partition. He heard all 
that had been said, as Mrs. Bard intended he should. 
He enjoyed the novelty of such an introduction to 
Mr. Bard. 

When supper was quite ready he came out, and 
Mrs. Bard introduced him as " the tramp ” who had 
so fully anticipated her husband’s labors. 

"What I said jokingly I now say sincerely,” said 
Mr. Bard, after explanations were made : " ' God 
bless this tramp ! ’ ” 

Reuben was deeply impressed by the hearty wel- 


40 


Reuben. 


come given him by Mr. and Mrs. Bard, and enjoyed 
that first meal away from home as much as any he 
had ever eaten, though the fare was very plain. 
The one wish of his heart was that his mother 
might at that hour look in upon the happy trio. 
Indeed, it was a quartette, for Baby Margie had 
taken her place at the table after an absence of 
several days. 

“ Hand Reuben a Bible, dear,*’ said Mr. Bard, 
after supper was over, at the same time reaching up 
to a convenient shelf where his Bible and his wife’s 
were kept. 

Mrs. Bard brought in another from the parlor 
and gave it to Reuben. 

“We read verse about,” explained Mr. Bard, 
“ and then have prayer. Do you pray ? ” 

“ Not much,” stammered Reuben, surprised by 
the whole proceeding quite as much as by the ques- 
tion directed to him. 

“ The lesson is the fifth chapter of Matthew to- 
night,” he added, without heeding Reuben’s embar- 
rassment. Fortunately, Reuben was familiar with 
the New Testament and quite easily found the 
place. After the reading Mr. Bard led in prayer, 
and prayed for the “ dear friend who has come to 
us to-night.” 

The allusion to him in such tender terms touched 
Reuben’s heart and moved him to tears. 


A Day of Disappointment. 


41 


CHAPTER IV. 

A DAY OF DISAPPOINTMENT. 

The next morning Reuben started to school 
with a light heart, rejoicing that he had found so 
pleasant a home, where he could pay part, if not 
all, of his board in work. In the exuberance of his 
joy he forgot several things that he afterward 
remembered with much distress of mind. 

He forgot that the clothing he wore was home- 
made and not in the style of the day. His broad- 
brimmed straw hat was just the thing for late fall 
farm work, but scarcely what a young man should 
wear to school in the village. The books he brought 
were out of date in the seminary, and were practically 
useless to him. He had two dollars and fifty cents, 
but that would not buy the books he needed, much 
less purchase a new hat and pay for the many little 
extras he should need, to be fully equipped for study 
and recitation. Indeed, he knew nothing of the de- 
mands made upon one’s purse for pencils, pens, ink, 
drawing-paper, note-books, and such things. 

Had he thought of all these his step would 
have been less light, his heart less gay, and his 


42 


Reuben. 


smile less broad and self-complacent. He was 
really wondering why more country boys did not 
take a course in the seminary, since it was so easily 
done, and since life at such a school was so charm- 
ing as compared with the dull routine of life on the 
farm. 

His good fortune so far was very encouraging, 
and he moved rapidly along toward the seminary 
feeling sure his guardian angel would lead him 
through all difficulties. He was in an amiable 
mood, feeling very affectionate toward his mother, 
very loving toward his father, and even forgiving 
the churn agent for trying to induce his father to 
make a patent-right salesman of him. His rev- 
erie was suddenly broken by a well-known voice 
calling, 

“ Reuben ! O, Reub ! ” 

He turned square about and was astonished to 
see his father drive up in the old spring-wagon, the 
agent for the patent churn with him. 

“ Come, get in, and come with us,” said his fa- 
ther, stopping to let Reuben climb in. 

“Why, father, what brought you here?” said 
Reuben, with a powerful effort not to show his dis- 
pleasure and disappointment, for he guessed at once 
that his father’s presence in Shackelford meant no 
good to his plan of getting an education. 

“ Business, Reub, business.” 


A Day of Disappointment. 43 

I can’t go far with you, father, for school begins 
at nine o’clock, and it is nearly that now.” 

“ Can’t go far ! ” exclaimed Mr. Ricketts. “ Well, 
now, I declare ! Have you got that notion in your 
head so soon ? ” 

Saying this he scowled at Reuben and cracked his 
whip savagely over the backs of his horses. They 
responded to the menace with alacrity, and sprang 
forward in a sweeping trot. The sudden start un- 
seated the churn agent, and the rapid gait of the 
team threatened to demolish the old wagon as it 
bounced over the uneven street. 

Reuben felt the color come and go in his face, for 
he knew his father meant to convey the idea that he 
was disrespectful, if not disobedient, in suggesting 
that he ought to go to school instead of going with 
him. From his earliest recollection he knew noth- 
ing but prompt and implicit obedience to his father’s 
commands. He had no thought of rebelling now, 
and felt the implication was unjust. 

The churn agent took in the situation immediate- 
ly, and as soon as he had regained his seat and recov- 
ered his hat, which bounded about in the wagon, and 
as soon as the horses had quieted into a gentle trot, 
he began to point out the many handsome residences 
passed, and to name the owners of them, intermin- 
gling directions to Mr. Ricketts where to drive. In 
this way he prevented any further colloquy between 


44 


Reuben. 


Reuben and his father, and improved his opportu- 
nity to impress upon Mr. Ricketts the many advan- 
tages of residing in town, and the numerous instances 
of farmers who had become capitalists by fortunate 
investments in great inventions. 

Now, there lives a man who was too poor wunst 
to have a change of shirts. While whittlin’ one day 
in the shade he struck on to the idee of makin’ a 
wash-machine, and now he lives in style and in ease. 
But, la ! la ! wash-machines is not to be mentioned 
in the same day with churns, for women are might’ly 
set against wash-machines, but all of ’em take kindly 
to churns. The principle is right and the philoso- 
phy plain. You can*t grind dirt out’n clothes, but 
you can pound butter out’n milk. That’s been 
dem’strated a thousand years. No, not quite, but 
ever since the Rev’lutionary War, anyhow. Over 
there, in that big red house, is a man [turn to the 
right here] what struck it big with a mouse-trap. 
He was working for a dollar a day, but now he don’t 
work, but lives like a king. He never sold many 
machines or traps — because why? He sold out for 
a cool hundred thousand to the ‘ rough-on-rats’ con- 
cern. His trap caught so many mice and rats that 
the ‘ rough ’ fellows had to buy him out or quit 
business. I never saw any of his traps, but I have 
heard that it was so charmin’ that rats would crowd 
around it and wait until somebody came to kill 


A Day of Disappointment. 


45 


what was in it so they could get in. I never be- 
lieved that, but I know he's oncommon rich now, 
and that’s all he ever did for a living. There’s a fel- 
low in that little yellow house that’s getting rich 
now. He’s invented [take down that street] a ma- 
chine for killing chickens. He told me the other 
day he expected to sell a million of ’em before a year. 
There’s the cooper-shop. Stop here.” 

Mr. Ricketts and the churn agent went into the 
shop, leaving Reuben to sit in the wagon and hold 
the horses. At that instant the seminary bell rang 
out loud and clear, warning Reuben that, if there at 
all that day, he would be tardy, and would be- 
gin his record with a mark against his name. He 
knew nothing about how long he was to wait; 
whether he was to go home with his father, or return 
to school. He imagined many things the principal 
might think about him, and how awfully he might 
condemn him for his failure to report promptly, as he 
had agreed to do the day before. For a half-hour he 
was left to his own thoughts. When his father came 
out of the shop Reuben handed the lines to him with 
a submissive air that told plainly that he had surren- 
dered to the inevitable, and would return to the farm 
and give up his cherished hope of graduation from 
college. 

“ We will drive to the foundry now,” said the 
churn agent. 


46 


Reuben. 


At the foundry they learned that the castings for 
the churns could not be made for several weeks. 
Mr. Ricketts also learned that there would be quite 
an additional expense for patterns, which would 
make the castings cost him more than had been fig- 
ured upon. But the delay had dashed his hopes to 
the ground. The cooper could not furnish the tubs 
for one hundred churns under two months, as he 
was out of seasoned lumber. 

When Mr. Ricketts came to give his note — on 
which he “ made his mark ” — the agent explained 
that he had made it payable at the bank in four 
months, saying, “You will have sold a hundred 
churns long before that.” When he found that the 
churns could not be made in time to sell to meet 
the note he suggested to the agent that the time 
should be extended. 

“ Very sorry. Friend Ricketts, but I have just 
turned the note over to the foundry man. He is 
pretty hard up for money, and I expect has had it 
discounted at the bank before this.” 

Notes Mr. Ricketts knew but little about, and 
bank discounts were unintelligible to him. He said 
no more, but swallowed his disappointment, and 
allowed the agent to walk back to town. Turning 
to Reuben he said : 

“ I will -drive you back to the school-house, Reub, 
if you want me to, for you are late now.” 


A Day of Disappointment. 47 

O, I am so glad said his son, sincerely, for 
I want you to see what a pretty place it is.” 

“ I did intend to take you home to run this churn 
business, but nothing will be ready for three months 
yet, so you may stay here until then.” 

I want to stay so much ! ” was all the reply 
Reuben dared trust himself to make, not knowing 
how to meet his father^s present whim. Then he 
added : “ I hope the churn business will turn out 
right. It seems that it ought to if that man tells 
the truth.” 

I get scared sometimes,” his father said, “ for 
it is throwing away mighty good money to buy all 
those fixin’s, when may be nobody will want them. 
Howsomever, it’s done now, and no use crying over 
spilt milk, if it is spilt.” And Mr. Ricketts laughed 
a little, but Reuben saiv it was a forced laugh, and 
did not come from the heart. 

The forenoon intermission had just occurred 
when the wagon stopped at the seminary steps. 
Reuben sprang out and hastened to report to the 
principal, having charged his father to tell his 
mother that he had not forgotten his promise to 
her. He dreaded to try to explain his tardiness to 
the principal. His fears were groundless, for when 
he said his father had taken him away on business 
the principal said : 

“ I missed, you, but felt certain you had a good 


48 


Reuben. 


excuse. Why did you not ask your father to call ? 
I should like much to see him.” 

Reuben did not quite understand the last remark, 
for he could not imagine why Professor Johnson 
should want to see his father. 

Later that day, when Reuben expressed his re- 
gret at being tardy the first day, and said he feared 
Professor Johnson would not understand the situa- 
tion, he was surprised when the principal said : 

“ I saw you drive through town with some one 
and old Mr. Stauffer. Was that your father with 
him? Do you know Stauffer? ” 

“ Never heard of him until this week,” said 
Reuben. 

“You tell your father to keep clear of all schemes 
Stauffer proposes. He is always hunting some in- 
nocent person to defraud.” 

Reuben’s blood stood still in his veins, he thought, 
when this announcement was made ; for to him it 
meant the loss of a large amount of money by his 
father. 

As he left the building at noon he met Mr. Stauf- 
fer, who was waiting for him. 

“Ah, Reub, your father gone?” 

“Yes ; he is nearly home by this time.” 

“ Sorry he’s gone ; monstrous sorry. I missed a 
roll of money after I left you at the foundry. Must 
have dropped it in the wagon, or may be left it at 


A Day of Disappointment. . 49 

your home. Did your father say any thing about 
finding it or seeing it ? ” 

“ He said nothing to me about money except 
that he had an idea what he had given you was as 
good as thrown away/' said Reuben, remembering 
the principal’s remark. 

“ O fiddlesticks ! Didn’t you do the figgering? 
Diggers don’t lie ! I guess I’ll drive out there. I 
left the old mare for your father to winter-pasture 
for me, and I will have to hire a livery to get out. 
May be I could ride your horse out ? How did you 
come in ? ” 

“ Walked.” 

“ Walked ! and a half dozen horses standin’ idle 
in the stable ! That is a lie ! ” 

Reuben’s face flushed, and he lifted his clenched 
fist to strike, when his accuser turned and walked 
briskly away. Reuben hurried home burning with 
wrath, but glad he had escaped an open conflict at 
the school. He avoided meeting Mrs. Bard, and 
went directly to his room, where he buried his face 
in his hands and struggled with many conflicting 
thoughts as to what he should do to vindicate his 

good name and protect his father from further loss. 

4 


50 


Reuben. 


CHAPTER V. 

LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS. 

Mrs. Bard had been delayed by callers that 
morning, and, much to her regret, dinner was not 
ready when she heard Reuben in his room. The 
time he had to wait gave Reuben a chance to de- 
cide on the best course to pursue, and to quiet his 
throbbing heart. 

‘‘ Perhaps mother has found it,’’ he said, aloud. 
The thought that the money might have been left 
under the pillow where the churn agent slept, and 
where his mother would certainly see it, seemed 
too good to be true ; but he clung to the hope 
awakened in his soul, and was greatly comforted by 
the possibility of his father again getting posses- 
sion of the six hundred dollars he had paid the 
agent two nights before. His fears vanished, and 
he laughed at the idea of his mother recovering 
the money so unexpectedly. When dinner was an- 
nounced Reuben was in his normal condition ; 
bright, cheerful, and hopeful. 

When he met Mr. Stauffer he had been perplexed 
by the lack of books, having in his hands a list of 


Light Out of Darkness. 


51 


what he needed, to provide which he had not half 
enough money. This trouble was overshadowed by 
the greater one of his father’s hasty investment ; 
but when that was put aside the book question 
came to him again. 

“ Reuben,” said Mrs. B^rd, “ I may have some 
books you could use and thereby save a little ex- 
pense, if you would not mind using second-hand 
ones.” 

“Are the books like what they use now in the 
seminary ? ” he asked, eagerly. 

“ About the same. 1 was graduated only two 
years ago. There have been very few changes. 
You might look through the library before you go 
back.” 

“ I have a list here,” he said, handing her the pa- 
per given him by Professor Johnson, containing the 
names of all the books he must have. 

“ I believe I have every one,” she said, glanc- 
ing over the list. Then, reading aloud, she said, 
“ Robinson’s ‘ Arithmetic,’ I have that ; Pinneo’s 
* Grammar,’ I have that, too ; Quackenbos’s * Prose 
Composition,’ and Webster’s ‘School Dictionary’ 
— I have them all.” 

The discovery of a gold-mine would not have sur- 
prised Reuben more than this intelligence, and it 
would not have made him much happier. 

“ You just wait here a minute and I will get them 


52 


Reuben. 


for you,” continued Mrs. Bard, rising quickly and 
hastening from the room. Reuben was easily 
moved, and this great pleasure brought tears to his 
eyes, which were hastily brushed away. When Mrs. 
Bard returned and placed the whole series on his 
lap, he looked up with a beaming face and said, 
“ How can I thank you ? but — ” he hesitated a 
moment; “ I can’t pay you for them to-day, for — ” 

“ Pay me ! I want no pay! You are welcome to 
them. Before Margie could use them they would 
be out of date. Take them freely, my friend.” 

“But, Mrs. Bard,” persisted Reuben, “it is 
only right that I should give you something for 
them.” 

“ Well, let it go with the board; we will settle 
all at the same time.” 

When Reuben returned to school with a com- 
plete set of books just as good as new — for there 
was not a leaf gone nor one soiled noticeably — the 
principal came to his desk to see if he had got the 
right books. He examined them and read the 
titles through. Opening one, he saw the maiden 
name of Mrs. Bard, written by herself, on the fly- 
leaf. 

“ Mattie Smith ! So these are Mrs. Bard’s books, 
eh? That is just like her. If you make as good 
use of these, Reuben, as Mattie did, you will stand 
high in your class.” 


Light Out of Darkness. 53 

Reuben felt a kind of inspiration in the handling 
of books which had carried their owner through 
school with such distinction as the words of Profes- 
sor Johnson indicated. They were more prized by 
him than would have been a -set just off the shelves 
of the book-store. 

That afternoon Reuben took his place with the 
classes in the recitations, but was excused from at- 
tempting to do the work assigned. Very often he 
found his mind wandering from them to his home. 
He went over and over in his mind all the transac- 
tions of the night the churn agent called, and was 
so absorbed in thought that he forgot where he was, 
and that his class in arithmetic was reciting. 

A rather dull member of the class was at the 
blackboard trying to solve a problem. The teacher 
was directing his efforts by questioning him. The 
pupil stood next to where Reuben sat. The 
teacher finally said, asking for an answer to the 
example given, 

“ How much money did he lose?” 

“ Six hundred dollars !"' said Reuben. 

The answer from such a quarter, and so far from 
the correct one, provoked the class and teacher to 
uncontrollable mirth ; for all eyes were on the dull 
pupil, and all were listening for his reply, which 
they expected would be wrong, as usual. They sup- 
posed Reuben was prompting him, and his answer 


54 


Reuben. 


was more stupid than any thing the other had ever 
said. Had Reuben known why they laughed he 
would have joined them ; but his sensitive nature 
attributed their hilarity to his personal appearance 
or awkwardness. The teacher noted Reuben’s 
excessive embarrassment, and came to his relief 
promptly by saying, 

“ Thank you, Mr. Ricketts, for giving us a good 
laugh. It shakes the cobwebs from our brains.” 

In an instant Reuben felt himself transformed 
from a cause of unseemly mirth, a butt of ridicule, 
into a source of pleasure and benefit, conferring a 
favor upon teacher and pupils instead of violating 
any rule of decorum. This act of the teacher en- 
deared him to Reuben beyond his power to 
express. 

Mr. Ricketts did not drive directly home from 
the seminary, as Reuben supposed, but went to the 
hotel stable, put his team up, and hunted up a law- 
yer, seeking advice on the transaction begun with 
the churn agent. 

After going into detail as to the terms of the con- 
tract he waited for the lawyer to speak, hoping that 
the hesitation of the attorney indicated a possibility 
of his escaping from the full penalty of his mistaken 
haste in closing a bargain. 

“ Well, Farmer Ricketts,” said the attorney, “ you 
know lawyers live off the misfortunes of others. 


Light Out of Darkness. 55 

That seems hard ; but it is so. If there were no 
misunderstandings, no false friends, no sneaks, no 
wicked people, lawyers would have to close their 
offices. You have come to me for advice. I am 
willing to give you advice if you think my judg- 
ment and ability as a lawyer are worth to you as 
much as ten dollars.” 

“ I suppose you mean I am to pay you ten dol- 
lars for your advice.” 

“ That is it.” 

Well, I will do it ; but I want the advice first.” 

‘‘ My friend, that is not the way. In such cases 
we always take the fee first.” 

Reluctantly, Mr. Ricketts pulled out his wallet, 
and with very nervous fingers took a ten-dollar bill 
and handed it to the lawyer, sighing as he did so. 

You say you gave him six hundred dollars 
cash ? ” 

“Yes; I had just sold my hogs, and happened to 
have the money at home, and gave it to him in 
large bills.” 

“ And you gave him your note for six hundred 
dollars more ” 

“ Yes ; at any rate, he said it was for six hundred 
dollars.” 

“ He said ! ” exclaimed the lawyer, in astonish- 
ment. “ Did you not read the note before you 
signed it ? ” 


56 


Reuben. 


“ No ; the light was bad and my eyes troubled 
me, so I didn’t read it.” 

‘‘ Where was your boy who did the figuring for 
you ? Why didn’t you get him to read it ? ” 

“ Well, he was sleepy, and getting ready to go to 
school, and I hated to trouble him.” 

“ Then you don’t know what amount the note is 
for?” 

“ Only what the agent said.” 

“What did you say the name of the agent is?” 

“ I don’t just mind what it is, though he stayed 
two nights with me. I heard him repeat it a good 
many times, but can’t just now recollect what it 
was.” 

“ Don’t you remember any thing about it ? What 
was it like ? ” 

“ Well, when I first heard it, I mind now that I 
thought about stuffed sausage.” 

“What an idea! It wasn’t Stauffer, was it?” 

That’s it exactly: Stauffer.” 

“ Not Isaac Stauffer? ” 

“ Yes ; Isaac Stauffer ; tall, slim, sandy chin whis- 
kers — pun’kin-colored whiskers.” 

“ Humph ! ” said the lawyer. “ What villainy will 
Stauffer be up to next ! ” 

“ Do you know him ? ” 

“ Know him ! I should say I did know him. Why, 
last term of court I barely saved him from going to 


Light Out of Darkness. 


57 


the State prison. Since then I have made up my 
mind that he ought to go there on general principles, 
without regard to any particular act. He is a bad 
man, and no mistake. So he’s the one ! ” 

The lawyer meditated a while and then said : 

“ Has he your note? Could you get to see it?” 

“ No ; he told me he had turned it over to the 
man at the foundry.” 

“Got rid of it at once, eh? That goes to show 
something is wrong. Why did he not take it to the 
bank?” 

“ He said the foundry-man owed him, or he owed 
him, or something or other, and said the bank would 
count it, or something.” 

“Which foundry? Did he say?” 

“ O, yes. I was there with him. It was the one 
over by the creek.” 

“ Good ! Reeder’s foundry. Now, see here. I 
have a judgment against Reeder, and he is turning 
over to me all the money and notes he can get. 
Two to one he will bring that very note here before 
dark to-day.” 

“Well, ah — if he should — how would it be about 
not pushin’ me ? ” 

“ I will not push you. Farmer Ricketts, for I see 
you have already paid dearly for your whistle ; but 
if there is any thing crooked about that note, and 
it gets into my hands, I will push Stauffer — will 


58 


Reuben. 


push him so hard he will hear the chains clank in 
the prison.” 

“ Well, if somebody else gets it, can I be 
pushed ? ” 

*‘That depends. You signed it without read- 
ing?” 

“Yes; that is, I made my mark. I can’t write — 
that is — not much.” 

“Made your mark! Was there any witness? 
Did any one sign as a witness ? ” 

“No; my wife had gone to bed, and Reub was 
asleep.” 

“ So much the better.” 

“ Better 1 For him or me ? ” 

“ For you. The note is not very valuable if 
signed that way.” 

“ Here,” said Mr. Ricketts, drawing out his wal- 
let and producing therefrom another ten-dollar bill, 
his hands trembling more violently than ever. 
“ This is your’n if you git that note and tear it up.” 

“ O, no,” laughed the lawyer ; “ I cannot takq 
that. If I save you from paying a six-hundred- 
dollar note I shall expect not less than fifty dollars 
for my services.” 

“ But the note may not be good. He couldn’t 
make me pay it! ” said Mr. Ricketts, astonished at 
the price the lawyer asked for his assistance. 

“ How could you know that if I did not tell you ? 


Light Out of Darkness. 


59 


You would have paid the whole six hundred dollars, 
even if you had to sell your best team, if I had not 
told you the note was probably worthless in law.” 

That’s so,” said Mr. Ricketts, putting his money 
back into his pocket. 

“ If the note turns up in my hands I will protect 
you as far as possible ; but my advice — and it will 
be worth more than I charge you for it — my advice 
is for you to let this churn business alone and stick 
to your farming.” 

“ That’s what I’ll do ; but I have already given 
the cooper an order for one hundred tubs, and the 
foundry-man one for the castin’s.” 

“Just drive around and tell them you have 
changed your mind.” 

“ But they have my money.” 

“Your money ! ” 

“Yes ; that churn man said they would be surer 
to git ’em out on time if I left a little money, so I 
gave the cooper twenty dollars and the foundry-man 
ten dollars on contract.” 

“Thirty dollars in all. Well, you have promised 
to pay the cooper how much when the tubs are 
done ? ” 

“ Seventy-five dollars.” 

“ And the foundry-man, how much ? ” 

“ Thirty dollars.” 

“ One hundred and five dollars. Well, let your 


6o 


Reuben. 


thirty dollars go, and you save seventy-five dollars 
by not taking the stuff. Your churns might do for 
hens’ nests, but you don’t want to spoil your hens 
by such extravagant notions.” 

“ Well, I wish I’d seen you afore I did him.” 

“ 1 wish so too, for your sake. Experience is a 
dear school, but some people learn in no other.” 

Mr. Ricketts could not help thinking how much 
he had paid for his instruction and how little he had 
been willing to give Reuben to go to school with. 
That afternoon, as he drove home, he felt ashamed 
to think he had, within two days, thrown away more 
money than Reuben had cost him in all his life. 
He surprised his wife by saying, after he had re- 
lated his experiences in Shackelford, “ If Reub sticks 
to his school he ought to be a lawyer. They live 
like kings, and make money like a mint.” 

And Mrs. Ricketts surprised him by replying, “ If 
Reub sticks to his school with nobody to help 
him, but, instead, pulling him away, he will prove 
himself fit to be a king, whether he is ever a lawyer 
or no.” 

“ Well, Nancy, just to please you, if I git out’n 
this churn business half way, or any thing like, I will 
let Reub stay to school the hull year.” 

That was more of a concession than his wife ex- 
pected, and she was hopeful that he meant more 
than his words indicated. 


Light Out of Darkness. 6i 

“ That churn man’s horse is like him — very un- 
certain. I have had to go to the far pasture three 
times to-day and drive the cows back and put up 
the fence or they’d killed themselves eating corn, 
for that old mare of his knocked down the rider 
fence in three different places.” 

“ Wish you had turned the old creature out and 
let her go. Like as not she’ll have the whole herd 
on the big road by morning.” 


62 


Reuben. 


CHAPTER VI. 

LEARNING LESSONS NOT IN THE BOOKS. 

Reuben had the pleasure next morning of being 
present when the assembly bell sent out its clear 
notes of warning to all pupils and teachers to take 
their posts of duty. 

The hum of conversation, the mirth here and 
there, the click of pencils on slates, of pupils assist- 
ing each other in lessons, the promenading of stu- 
dents with books in hand committing rules to mem- 
ory, all suddenly ceased, and Reuben was surprised 
to find perfect silence before the bell had ceased to 
ring, and all pupils in their places ; he being the last 
to find his desk, for he had waited a minute to see 
what the others did. 

This was not the way the school at home was 
opened. When the bell rang there, the uproar, 
which had always been deafening, increased in fury, 
as each boy seemed anxious to get out of the remain- 
ing minutes of recess all the noise his vigorous body 
could produce. Even after the pupils at the school 
had taken seats the room resounded with whacks 
of books upon the heads of seat-mates, followed 


Learning Lessons Not in the Books. 63 

by unearthly shrieks of pretended pain from the 
assaulted boy, who in turn pommeled the sides 
and back of his assailant until he cried in mock 
seriousness, “ Murder ! help ! help ! ” The vigorous 
pounding of the teacher with the ferule upon his 
table was scarcely sufficient to attract the attention 
of the noisy throng. At the seminary there was 
none of this wild disorder; but, instead, instant 
silence and perfect decorum. Reuben was not 
only surprised at this but delighted. It was in 
keeping with his own ideas of propriety, and he felt 
more and more that he had at last found the place 
he had longed for so many years. 

When he took his seat he opened his book and 
was quickly engaged in study. He heard nothing 
but the ticking of the clock against the wall at the 
side of the room opposite the principal’s desk. Pro- 
fessor Johnson was sitting behind the desk, calm 
and unconcerned. After a minute or two of silent 
study Reuben looked up and found that he alone 
of all the seventy-five pupils in the room was study- 
ing. The others were sitting back in their seats 
with folded arms, as if waiting for something; Reu- 
ben did not know what. Quickly he closed his 
book, and carefully put it away in the desk ; but 
notwithstanding his care it 'struck the shelf, and 
the slight blow filled the room with what appeared 
to Reuben a noise like the fall of a maul upon the 


64 


Reuben. 


wedge in a log in the woods. Professor Johnson 
looked toward him with lifted eye-brows as much 
as to say, “ Didn’t you know better ? ” The next 
instant there were sounds of soft footfalls and then 
the rustling of dresses as two lady teachers quickly 
but quietly swept by Reuben and took their places 
on the platform at the right of the principal. Im- 
mediately two lines of students from the lower 
rooms filed into the spacious door-way, and, divid- 
ing, passed to right and left, marching rapidly, but 
almost noiselessly, to their places around the room, 
on benches provided for their use. 

At the instant of their appearance six young men 
arose, and, going to the platform, picked up an arm- 
ful of books and distributed them to the school and 
resumed their seats. As they sat down the last of 
the incoming pupils were seated. Another lady 
teacher. Professor Johnson’s wife, came in and 
passed quickly to the organ ; an instrument that 
had escaped Reuben’s notice until he saw her seat 
herself by it. After her came Mr. Martin, the other 
teacher, who took his place at the left of the princi- 
pal, who was now standing with an open Bible in 
hand. He read selections from several chapters, 
and then announced a song which the school found 
in the books laid upon the desks by the six young 
men. The singing was almost perfect. The teach- 
ers supplied all the parts, and the pupils swelled 


Learning Lessons Not in the Books. 65 

the chorus grandly. Such a proceeding was entirely 
new to Reuben. He had never even heard of such 
opening of school, much less witnessed it. After 
the song came a short prayer, which closed with the 
Lord’s Prayer in concert by the school. Then came 
the roll-call by numbers. Each pupil, commencing 
with number one, called aloud his number; each 
following the other in rapid succession. The call 
ran down to thirty- five, when there was a break. 
The principal said, “ Thirty-five absent,” then thirty- 
six was called, and the others followed. 

During the progress of this part of the pro- 
gramme some enthusiastic pupils, remembering 
their own number and the one just ahead of theirs, 
would, in their anxiety not to be slow, sing out the 
number just ahead of theirs at the same instant the 
one to whom it belonged would call. “ One at a 
time ” the principal would laughingly say, and then 
all laughed, and the call went on. This surprised 
Reuben, for at the school in the country to laugh 
once meant to laugh a quarter of an hour, first at 
something and then at nothing. He did not know 
how to appreciate the moderate mirth of the sem- 
inary pupils. Reuben’s number was one hundred 
and fifty-two. That is what the principal told him 
when he gave him the admission ticket, but he had 
not heard it mentioned since. When one hundred 

and fifty-one had called every body waited for the 
6 


66 


Reuben. 


next, and Reuben waited with them. His seat- 
mate nudged him with his elbow, but as he thought 
that was the seminary way of quietly saying “ how 
d’y,” he smiled and nudged his seat-mate in return. 
By way of impressing his duty on his mind Professor 
Johnson said kindly : 

“ Is one hundred and fifty-two here ? ” 

“ He is, professor, but has not found it out yet,” 
said Reuben’s seat-mate, rising. 

“ Will you kindly tell him he is here ? ” said the 
principal, with good-natured mirth. 

“ With pleasure,” said the young man. 

Turning to Reuben, who was now gazing at his 
friend in wonder at what it all meant, he said : 

“ Professor Johnson desires me to say to you that 
you are here, and the school awaits your number.” 

O, my number ! One hundred and fifty-two,” 
sang out Reuben. 

The laugh that followed this report ceased in- 
stantly when the call-bell rang, and the teachers left 
the room followed by the pupils as noiselessly as 
they came. 

All this was done so promptly that the hands of 
the clock pointed only to 9:15, when the last stu- 
dent was out of the room, and recitations were in 
progress. 

The principal’s room was used as study, chapel, 
and recitation-room by the older pupils. Reuben 


Learning Lessons Not in the Books. 67 

had been assigned to a seat with James McGrew. 
This was not an accidental assignment. Professor 
Johnson did not trust to chance in any thing. He 
knew that Jim, as every one called Reuben's seat- 
mate, was just the one to associate with a sensitive, 
ambitious, awkward, and good-natured farmer-boy 
like Reuben. Jim had grown up in the seminary, 
commencing there when primary pupils were ad- 
mitted — a -practice long before this time discon- 
tinued — and had gone up to the senior department. 
Professor Johnson knew Jim, and trusted him nearly 
as much as he did any one of his assistants. Jim 
had more than once saved the school from unseemly 
disturbance by his good sense and fearless stand for 
right and the school rules. He had also smoothed 
the path of many awkward boys like Reuben, and 
held them in school when, without his gentle and 
wise help, they would have deserted before the end 
of one term. 

Jim’s father was one of the wealthiest men in 
Shackelford, a physician of immense practice ; a 
hard-working and conscientious doctor, who be- 
lieved in education and in the theory that boys 
should be taught independence by timely assistance 
over hard places, but should not be spoiled by con- 
stant carrying. Jim inherited his father’s ideas. 

There was one thing in which Reuben was never 
stinted by his father, and that was in the use of to- 


68 


Reuben. 


bacco. He bought the weed in large quantities, and 
Reuben had access to the supply, and in early child- 
hood learned to use it. His father knew of the 
habit and consented to it. Reuben’s mother was 
greatly distressed when she learned that he was 
imitating the example of his father in this respect. 
She struggled hard to break him of the habit, but 
finally gave up. The night she packed his valise 
she put into it a pound plug of black tobacco. This 
Reuben prized so highly that he used it gingerly, 
not knowing where the next supply was to come 
from. But he used it and carried it in his pocket. 
He was not a little annoyed to find the floors of the 
seminary as white, almost, as the scrubbed floors of 
his mother’s kitchen. He had never dared to pol- 
lute that with his expectorations of tobacco juice, 
and did not dare to soil the floors of the seminary 
either. 

He had a piece of tobacco in his mouth when the 
assembly bell rang. He forgot to throw it out, 
and, as he dared not spit on the floor, he found 
himself at the close of the morning service com- 
pelled to swallow a mouthful of saliva poisoned with 
tobacco juice. To prevent a repetition of such an 
unpleasant dose he slyly took the quid out and 
dropped it under his desk. 

Jim’s quick eye caught the act, and, as he had 
before noticed that Reuben was using tobacco, he 


Learning Lessons Not in the Books. 69 

at once surmised what he had thrown on the floor. 
He did not want that tell-tale tobacco found under 
his desk, for, while Professor Johnson knew he did 
not use it, he was afraid of the effect a direct lecture 
would have on Reuben. Peeping under the desk 
when Reuben was studying he located the quid, 
and then, with a vigorous side-long shove of his 
foot, he sent the little ball of tobacco spinning to 
the side of the room where the young ladies sat. 

Reuben was not as attentive to his lesson as Jim 
supposed^ and, as his conscience troubled him for 
having thrown the tobacco on the floor, where not a 
piece of white paper was permitted to remain, he 
detected the kick and saw the quid as it slid out and 
over to the young ladies’ side of the house. He 
blushed scarlet. He had felt so grateful to Jim for 
his cordial treatment so far that he was distressed 
that he should now repay his kindness by an act 
that had angered him ; for he supposed the kick 
was one of displeasure instead of an effort to save 
him from public disgrace. 

“ Ah-ha, and what is this ? ” said Professor 
Johnson an hour later, as he passed down the aisle 
and stepped on the offending quid of tobacco. 
Turning it over with his foot he said, “ What young 
lady has been chewing tobacco? Girls, it is on 
your side of the house. Surely no gentleman would 
be so rude as to get out of the disgrace of using 


70 


Reuben. 


so vile a weed by throwing this big ball of nastiness 
over on the girls’ side.” 

Every eye in the room w’as on the principal. 
Reuben wondered how Jim could stand the implica- 
tion that he was no gentleman, as he had thrown 
the tobacco over there. He expected to see him 
stand in his place and tell just how he happened to 
do so ungentlemanly a thing. Instead, however, 
Jim said, interrupting the principal : 

“ May I leave the room ? ” 

“Certainly,” said Professor Johnson, and as Jim 
w^ent out he called to a boy sitting near the stove, 
“ Bring me the tongs.” When they were brought 
he picked up the quid carefully, nipping just a little 
piece of the edge of the tobacco, saying, “ I don’t 
want to spoil my tongs. This is the dirtiest work 
they ever did.” He then put a sheet of letter paper, 
clean and white, on his table, and dropped the to- 
bacco upon it. “ Now we will see who will claim 
this sweet morsel.” 

At first Reuben was embarrassed. As Professor 
Johnson continued to talk he became ashamed. 
Finally he was angry. His impulse was to pick up 
his books and leave. He thought instantly of Mrs. 
Bard, and how he could explain his hasty action to 
her. When Jim left the room to prevent being 
forced to tell on him he concluded not to leave 
until he had a chance to thank him for his- kindness. 


Learning Lessons Not in the Books. 71 

When his rage was fiercest and his determination 
strongest to leave just as soon as he could find a 
reasonable excuse, he felt a hand on his shoulder, 
and heard the principal saying, 

“ Can I help you any in your lessons ? ” 

He consented to have some instruction as to 
how to prepare his grammar recitation. When 
the teacher left Reuben’s desk his hatred had all 
melted under the cordiality of Professor Johnson’s 
manner. 

When the forenoon intermission occurred Reuben 
sauntered out on the play-ground, glad to exercise 
a little in the fresh air. The younger pupils from 
the lower rooms were there in force, tossing balls 
and playing “ shinney.” 

Hello, hat ! ” cried one, not looking at any one 
in particular, but apparently intent on striking the 
shinney ” ball, “ where are you going with that 
boy?” 

Reuben looked around to see who was meant. 
‘“His coat so big he couldn’t pay the tailor!’” 
shouted another boy, thumping the ground impa- 
tiently with his shinney club. 

Reuben had a faint suspicion from the sidelong 
glances at him that he was somehow concerned in 
the remarks, which, however, had no meaning, so 
far as he could see. 

“ Is it green ? ” cried another. 


72 


Reuben. 


“ It is green ! " shouted a chorus of voices. 

“Does its mother know it’s out?” shouted an- 
other boy. 

“ She does! She does! ” yelled twenty voices at 
once. 

“ Then what is all this noise about ? ” cried the 
first. 

“Why does the sun shine, you silly lout?” 
shouted the chorus again. 

“ To make green things ripe,” the first replied. 

The meanwhile they were all playing as though 
their lives depended on finishing the game before 
the recess closed. Ruben felt that he was the butt 
of their jokes, and stood like a statue in their midst, 
desiring to resent their ill manners, but not know- 
ing how to reach them. Suddenly another boy 
called in a loud voice, 

“ Send for a cart to take the straw-stack away! ” 
meaning Reuben and his big hat. 

At this juncture Jim stepped up and said : 

“ Would you like to go nutting next Saturday 
with a lot of us boys.” 

Reuben was glad for an excuse to get away from 
the smaller boys without appearing to run from 
their jeers, and said, “Indeed, I would.” 

^ “ Come with me and we will find the others, and 
talk about it.” 

Together they left Reuben’s tormentors, and 


Learning Lessons Not in the Books. 73 

found a circle of young men who were planning for 
the proposed nutting excursion. 

“ It is rather early to go for nuts, as there has 
been but little frost, but we can find where they are, 
and the girls will enjoy the ride.” 

“ Are the girls going too ? ” said Reuben, painfully 
aware by this time of the appearance he made in 
his ungainly suit. 

“Certainly,” said Jim, smiling; “we have to take 
the girls along or starve. They furnish the dinner, 
you know.” 

Just then the bell rang, and further planning had 
to be postponed until the noon hour, or some other 
convenient season. 


74 


Reuben. 


CHAPTER VII. 

SOME WELL-LAID PLANS DEFEATED. 

As the lawyer had said he would, Mr. Reeder, 
the foundry man, called, soon after Mr. Ricketts left 
the office, and offered the note as part payment of 
the judgment. 

Where did you get this note ? asked the lawyer, 
turning it over to read the indorsement on its back. 

“ I took it on a debt Stauffer owed me.” 

‘‘ I see it is marked payable at the bank. Why 
not go there and get the money on it? ” 

“Well, I thought you could do better with it 
than I could at the bank, as you are a stockholder 
and director.” 

“ Does this note represent so much money out to 
you ? ” 

Mr. Reeder blushed and hesitated, cleared his 
throat, and said : 

“ Well, no, I can’t say it does. Stauffer owes me 
a little bill and offered me this at such a bargain 
I thought I could take it in.” 

“ Do you know that the note is probably worth- 
less?” 


Some Well-Laid Plans Defeated. 75 

“ I do not ; I understand Ricketts is a well-to- 
do farmer who never goes in debt for any thing and 
has lots of fine stock. He ought to be good for 
six hundred dollars.” 

“ But is this his note ? Did he sign it ? ” 

“ He made his mark, I see.” said Mr. Reeder. 

“ How do you know he did? The note is pay- 
able to Stauffer or order. He is the plaintiff if 
suit should be brought, or virtually so. Suppose 
Ricketts denies the mark, where is your witness to 
his signature? ” 

“Then you think it not worth much?” 

“ It is not worth any thing to me,” said the law- 
yer, tossing it aside. “ It may be to you.” 

“ See here,” said Reeder, “ it has already cost me 
fifty dollars to get that note. I agreed to pay 
Stauffer one hundred more if you were willing to 
take it at its face on that judgment. He can’t get 
the one hundred if you reject this paper, but he will 
hold on to the fifty.” 

“ Then you actually gave him fifty dollars for the 
note? ” 

“Yes; fifty dollars in cash and a receipt against 
his open account for twenty-five more. I don’t 
count that, though, for I never expected to get any 
thing for it.” 

“Well, I’ll tell you : I have some business with 
Ricketts. I will give you credit on the judgment 


Reuben. 


76 

for twenty-five dollars if you choose to leave the 
note on these terms.” 

“ That looks like throwing away twenty-five dol- 
lars. It cost me fifty.” 

“So it did ; but I do not think you could collect 
it by law. At any rate it would cost you twenty- 
five dollars to carry the case through court. That 
would make you out seventy-five dollars. My plan 
would leave you out only twenty-five.” 

“Well, take it ; but you bet Til hunt Stauffer up 
and make him take a thrashing for cheating me.” 

“ No ; don’t do that,” said the lawyer. “ That 
will cost you ten or fifteen dollars in the police court, 
and you are too decent a man to have a fight with 
a scoundrel like Stauffer.” 

Mr. Reeder meditated a minute or two, pacing 
the floor in anger, and then stalked out of the office, 
saying as he went, addressing the lawyer, 

“ You are right, colonel ; but I will get even with 
him some way.” 

“ Not in this world, I am afraid,” shouted the 
lawyer after Mr. Reeder, as he went down the 
stairs. 

After Stauffer left Reuben he went to the cooper 
shop to look for his lost money, and then back to 
the foundry. From the latter place he went to the 
livery-stable to hire a horse and buggy to drive out 
to Mr. Ricketts’s to hunt the money. At the stable 


Some Well-Laid Plans Defeated. 77 

he recognized the wagon and team of Mr. Ricketts, 
but none of the attendants could tell him where the 
owner was. He saf down to wait Mr. Ricketts’s re- 
turn, guessing that he would soon be on his way 
home, as he had no business in Shackelford except 
to see about the churns, and would not want to 
stay after that was done except to feed his horses 
and get dinner. 

After waiting an hour he went to a restaurant 
around the corner from the stable, leaving word to 
detain Mr. Ricketts until he should come back, if 
that gentleman should come for his horses before 
Stauffer returned. When the stable-boy delivered 
Mr. Ricketts the message, and added, “ He said he 
wanted to see you on important business, worth 
hundreds of dollars,” it made him in great haste to 
get away, instead of tending to delay his return 
home. 

“ Well, you just hitch on my team and I will 
drive around a spell. If that fellow comes back, 
you tell him to wait here until I get back. I don’t 
care how long he waits.” 

In five minutes Mr. Ricketts was in his wagon, 
rolling out of town at as good a gait as the team 
had ever shown. He did not let up on the sur- 
prised horses until he turned off the main road and 
entered a woods road, that wound over hills and 
across fords, through private drive-ways in mead- 


Reuben. 


78 

ows, and finally brought up in Mr. Ricketts’s own 
timber lot. 

When he gained this road, but little traveled, he 
let the team walk leisurely while he went over and 
over the experiences of the past few days. 

After dinner, swallowed hastily, Stauffer returned 
to the stable and at once noticed that the wagon 
and team were gone. 

“Did you tell that fellow what I said?” 

“ Yes, sir,” said the boy, not looking up from the 
horse he was rubbing. 

“ Well, what then ? ” 

“ He said for you to wait here until he got back.” 

So Stauffer waited. An hour passed, and then 
another, but the man he waited for did not come. 
It was now too late to start for Mr. Ricketts’s that 
day; so, reluctantly, Stauffer postponed his trip 
until the next morning. 

He got an early start and made a quick trip, driv- 
ing a team of livery horses which were unusually 
brisk travelers. He found Mr. Ricketts at work in 
the woods between his house and the highway, get- 
ting out his winter’s supply of fuel. A squirrel rifle 
stood against a tree and at its foot were stretched two 
gray squirrels that the trusty rifle had brought down. 

Mr. Ricketts had kept an eye on Stauffer as he 
drove in at the big gate and came toward the pile 
of stove-wood he was loading into the wagon. 


Some Well-Laid Plans Defeated. 79 

“ Hello, Ricketts ! ” Stauffer said, assuming an 
air of good-humor he did not feel. 

“ Hello ! ” said the other, keeping steadily at 
work. 

Got home safe last night, eh ? ” 

No thanks to you if I did.” 

“What makes you so crusty?” 

“ What are you here for ? ” said Mr. Ricketts. 
“ Haven’t you done meanness enough? ” 

“What ails you? Have you lost anything?” 
asked Stauffer. 

“ Lost a powerful sight of confidence in human 
nature, and about a wagon-load of corn,” said the 
farmer. 

“ What’s that to me ? ” 

“ It’s a good deal, I reckon. May be you’ll think 
so when you see your old gray horse dying from 
eating too much corn.” 

“Where is she? Show her to me.” 

“ No, I wont.” 

“ You wont ? ” 

“No; nor, more, you aint going to see her, 
nuther.” 

“Why?” asked Stauffer, in surprise. 

“ ’Cause you aint going no further on this ’ere 
farm.” 

“ Well, say,' I didn’t come out here to quarrel with 
you. Did your wife find any money?” 


REUBExV. 


“ I never saw her find any.” 

“ Did she tell you she found any? ” 

“ None of your business what she told me.” 

“ Look here, Ricketts, I have no time this mornin’ 
to waste in words. I want that six hundred dol- 
lars.” 

“What six hundred dollars?” 

“ What you gev’ me for the churn right.” 

“ Haven’t you got it? I saw you have it, I’m 
mighty sorry to say.” 

“ No, I haint. I lost it, and I ’lowed — ” 

“ So did I lose it. So we are even.” 

“ But I ’lowed you might have found it.” 
“Where did you lose it?” 

“ I don’t know, or I would go and get it.” 

“ Mebbe you would, and mebbe you couldn’t.” 

“ Well, I ’low I ought to have what I lost ! ” 

“ Would you ’low me same privilege ?” 

“ ’Course I would. But, Mr. Ricketts, come, 
now ; I did lose that roll o’ bills you gave me. Did 
you find them ? ” 

“ No, I didn’t.” 

“ Did your wife? ” 

“ I didn’t see her find any thing.” 

“Now I knowed she did, just as soon as you 
acted so crusty. I have come for it, and I’m goin’ 
to have it or know why ! ” 

Saying this, Stauffer got out of the buggy, tied 


Some Well-Laid Plans Defeated. 8i 

the horses to a limb, and moved toward Mr. 
Ricketts in a threatening manner. Bowser, the 
big mastiff, had been a mute observer of the stran- 
ger, but now he stood up and growled ominously. 
Stauffer stopped. 

“ Keep your eye on him, Bowser, he’ll bear watch- 
in’,” said ]\Ir. Ricketts, tossing the wood into the 
wagon-box as he had been doing all the while. 

“ Call your dog away or I’ll put a bullet through 
him.” 

He is away. You’re the one to stand back, I 
reckon. What do you want here ? I never axed 
you to come — now, nor the other time. You’re a 
scoundrel! You eat my bread, sleep in my beds, 
feed your horses on my corn, and then rob me like 
a thief! ” 

“ I have no time to bandy words with you,” said 
Stauffer, eyeing Bowser, while Bowser eyed him. 

I want that ’ere money and mighty quick, too. 
You just as good as told me your wife found it. I 
’lowed I left it under the pillow.” 

“ Well, I have got my load on, and I’m goin’ to 
the house with it. That’s the very same gate you 
came in at, first time and last. It swings out’ards 
easier than it swings in’ards. My wife is at the 
house. There’s room in that house just for two 
— me and her. At present time the yard is just 
big enough for Bowser, and I reckon he knows it. 

6 


82 


Reuben. 


If he don’t, I’ll put a flea in his ear. These 
squir’ls played on the top limb of that tall tree over 
there. You see where they are now, and there’s no 
mark of bullet ’ceptin on their heads. If you think 
Nancy or me’s got any thing you ought to have, I’ll 
speak to her ’bout it when I go up. If I aint back 
here by an hour you may know we ’low we aint got 
what’s your’n, ’ceptin’ the old mare and the crazy 
buggy. You can have them in the spring if she aint 
dead. If you have lost any thing you can get an 
officer to come and look for it ; but if Jacob Rick- 
etts catches you on his farm after noon to-day, you 
will lose somethin’ — an’ no mistake ! ” 

Mr. Ricketts shouldered his rifle, threw the game 
on the wagon, and started for the house. About an 
hour afterward he went back for another load, but 
Stauffer was not there. He had gone home. 

When he reached Shackelford, some time after 
noon, he heard that Mr. Reeder was looking for 
him. That night he left for the Far West, telling a 
few friends that he had engaged with a manufact- 
uring firm to sell fire-extinguishers and lightning- 
rods. 

“ I don’t feel right about keeping this money,” 
said Mrs. Ricketts to her husband, as they talked 
the matter over after supper. 

** Neither do I. When the old agent came 
here threatening, I got my spunk up, and would 


Some Well-Laid Plans Defeated. 83 

have fought before I’d give it up. But I made a 
fair trade, and I reckon the money is his’n.” 

Suppose you go to Shackelford and see the law- 
yer about it,” said Mrs. Ricketts. “ It will never 
do me any good to keep it.” 

“ It’s mighty 'spensive, this thing of talkin’ to 
lawyers. I’d hate to have him tell me the money 
aint our’n and then pay him ten dollars for it. I 
know that now. If he’d tell me it’s our’n I could 
stand it better.” 

“You might pay him out of the money if it aint 
ours, and if it is — why, you can pay him out of it 
any way.” 

“That’s so, Nancy. Wouldn’t be out much 
whichever way the lawyer jumps! Guess I’ll go 
down Saturday.” 

When Saturday came Mr. Ricketts started to 
Shackelford. This was his first experience outside 
of the business connected with farming. He had 
been uniformly successful in buying and selling 
stock, never losing money in any purchase. His sud- 
den and heavy loss in this speculation unnerved him. 
He recalled that when he crept into bed the night 
he made the trade his wife had said with more vigor 
than usual for her, “Jacob, don’t let that man fool 
you. If his churn is such a good thing why didn’t 
he ask for milk instead of water to try it?” He re- 
called that he said to her, snappishly, “ I’m the head 


84 Reuben. 

of this house.” So while he had less confidence in 
himself he leaned trustingly on the judgment of 
his wife, and found his heart beating something like 
it did when he was a young man as she handed 
him the lines, after he had got in the wagon and 
wrapped himself in the lap-robe. 

“ If the lawyer says it’s ours, Nancy, I guess the 
biggest part is your’n for sure, ’cause you found it.” 

Then came to Mrs. Ricketts a strong desire that 
such might be the case, for she remembered that 
Reuben was fighting a hard battle against odds, and 
she longed to help him. 

“ Hadn’t you better take the old gray mare back? 
You can lead her behind the wagon. Take the 
buggy, too,’’ said his wife. 

No. I told him I’d keep her till spring, to pay 
'for helping me get the castin’s and fixin’s and get 
started. He done that all right, and I’ve got to 
do my part. No; I’ll keep her if she spoils a ton 
o’ corn. Jacob Ricketts’s word’s good’s his bond, 
Nancy. I’m not measurin’ my acts by no churn 
agent’s rule.” 

“ There is no legal process by which Stauffer 
could recover the money,” said the lawyer, after he 
heard the particulars of the finding; “for he could 
not prove that your wife had found any ; but if he 
could he would not be able to identify what she 
found as the money he lost ; besides, she has no 


Some Well-Laid Plans Defeated. 85 

legal knowledge of any lost money, as what she 
found was what she knew belonged to you, having 
found in your own house the very roll that she had 
counted and tied up for you with a piece of red 
tape cut from the window-curtain string. But mor- 
ally you have no right to the money, for it is the 
same that you know you gave Stauffer in exchange 
for a right to make and sell churns. You can keep 
the money just as you could keep any thing you 
should find.’* 

“What can I do with it?” asked Mr. Ricketts, 
“You say Stauffer’s gone.” 

“So he is, but his family are here; and they are 
nice people, too. Mrs. Stauffer is well thought of 
by all who know her. It would be just like Stauffer 
to leave her and the three girls to shift for them- 
selves while he is carousing on the little money he 
has happened to get without working for. It would 
be a God-send to the family to get hold of this 
money. Had Stauffer got it, he would have done 
just as he has done — gone off to spend it. In that 
case he would have stayed six months. As it is, he 
will be back in less than six weeks.” 

“ Then you think I ought to give her the money ? ” 

“Yes, I do. It will hurt you a little to do it, but 
it will bless her and make the family comfortable.” 

“ But is that as good as payin’ him ? — in the law, 
I mean.” 


86 


Rfuben. 


“Yes; she can receipt to you for it. Besides, 
Stauffer is a vengeful rascal. You got rid of him 
pretty slick the other day, but if you keep the 
money, two to one sometime you will find a fine 
cow dead, or something of that sort. He is a bad 
man, and would not stop short of murder if he 
thought he could hide his tracks.” 

“Well, there’s the money; you take it and do 
what’s best. I’d as soon have a snake in my pocket. 
I feel all clammy a’ready.” 

“ Very likely he would be willing to let you keep 
part as a reward for honesty.” 

“ Me keep a part ! Him reward me for honesty ! ” 

“ That would be queer, I must say,” said the 
lawyer, laughing. “ I will take the money to Mrs. 
Stauffer, get her receipt for you, and when this 
note business is fixed up you will be clear of the 
whole business,” continued the attorney. 

“ I could be kinder glad if I thought Stauffer 
would never get any of that money — only his wife, 
if she’s good as you say.” 

“ He will never get it. There’s a mortgage on 
their home, and this will just pay it off and leave 
enough to buy winter clothing for the family. I 
will advise her to pay the mortgage. It isn’t due 
yet ; but I am attorney for the mortgagee, and I 
think he will take his money now and release the 
record.” 


Some Well-Laid Plans Defeated. 87 

“ Seems to me you lawyers know every thing, 
and jest how to do it,” said Mr. Ricketts, glad he 
had escaped the smothered wrath of Stauffer and 
was about to help a needy and deserving wife and 
mother. “ How long did it take to learn this 
business ?’* 

“ My, my, man ! I have been at it twenty-five 
years, and just know my a b c’s.” 

When Mr. Ricketts returned home he was hap- 
pier without the six hundred dollars than he had 
been that morning with it in his possession. 

“ I aint afeerd o’ no livin’ man, Nancy, when I can 
see him ; but prowlin’ sneaks in the night can’t be 
fought fair and squar’. I’m cornin' out better’n if 
I’d gone on, anyhow. Guess the women of this 
here county ’ll do without churns like them a long 
time, seein’ I have the right ter make them and no 
heart to do it.” 

“Did you see Reub?” asked Mrs. Ricketts, her 
heart fluttering in anticipation of an affirmative an- 
swer, and wishing she could have gone to Shack- 
elford with her husband. 

“ ’Pears to me like I did ; but I kinder reckon 
not. What ’ud he be doin’ in a wagon full of fine 
girls and boys? But I thought I’d know that hat 
and coat in the dark. If it wa’n’t him it was pow- 
erful like ’im.” 

“ What were they doing?” 


88 


Reuben. 


“ Flying along the street like mad. And Reub 
— ef it was Reub — was sittin’ on the front seat, 
holdin’ the horses down as beautiful as you ever 
seed. That boy *s a monstrous good driver. Some- 
thin’ in your eye, Nancy?” 


The Nutting Party. 


89 


CHAPTER VIII. 

THE NUTTING PARTY. 

Reuben was half inclined to excuse himself from 
attending the nutting excursion ; but whenever he 
attempted to do so Jim anticipated him by sug- 
gesting something that he alone could do, and which, 
if not done, would spoil the fun. 

And then he dreaded a Saturday without any 
thing to do. It was hard enough, at best, to keep 
free from homesickness ; and he feared he could not 
get through if left to himself Saturday. 

“ We will start between eight and nine o^clock 
in the morning,’* said Jim, as he left Reuben, Fri- 
day afternoon when school closed. “ Do not fail 
to be ready when we call for you, as we must get 
off promptly.” 

“ Will it cost — What do you pay for — Does 
each one pay something?” 

‘‘O, yes; I forgot to tell you,” said Jim. “We 
are going to take our big wagon with a lot of spring 
seats ; but that wont cost any thing. The team is 
all we have to hire : I don’t know exactly what that 
will be; but I will attend to that,” said Jim, sud- 


90 


Reuben. 


denly thinking that the expense of the trip was 
troubling Reuben. “ You are my guest, you know. 
It is a real accommodation for you to go. There are 
to be just five boys and five girls in our wagon, and 
about that many in the other one. I counted on 
your going with sister Jessie.” 

“ O, I will pay my part,” said Reuben, blush- 
ing, when he found Jim had guessed one of his rea- 
sons for not wanting to go. 

“Well, if you would rather,” added Jira, quickly 
noticing Reuben’s heightening color; “but be sure 
and not fail us, for sister Jessie would be alone if you 
did.” 

Reuben went home, wondering whether a livery 
team would cost five dollars or ten, and whether 
Monday would find him with any money at all. 
He was angry at himself for consenting to go. “ If 
I had said ‘no’ at the first, there would have been 
an end of the trouble.” 

He looked at his Sunday suit, questioning 
whether he should put it on or not. At home he 
would not have thought of going nutting in his best 
suit ; but he felt inclined to put it on in the morn- 
ing. “ My money all gone and my best clothes 
spoiled in one week,” he said, imagining what a 
plight he would be in if some serious accident 
should happen him in the woods. “ Besides, if I 
dress up and they don’t, they will think I’m green. 


The Nutting Party. 91 

If I wear my every-day clothes and they have their 
best on, they will think I have no other, or am 
green, too.” Finally, he concluded to take his 
chances and wear his every-day garments. 

Reuben had told Mrs. Bard of his invitation to 
the nutting party, and she approved of his going. 

“You are not accustomed to in-door work, and 
unless you take a good deal of fresh air on Sat- 
urdays you will get sick. Then, Jim McGrew is a 
capital hand to manage such parties. You are 
bound to have a good time if he goes.” 

“ But, Mrs. Bard, in the country the boys always 
go by themselves after nuts, and the girls by them- 
selves,” said Reuben, leading the way to a new 
difficulty. 

“Do they? Why, I don’t think that is half as 
nice as to go together,” she said. 

“ May I ask you a question ? ” said Reuben, bash- 
fully. 

He had found Mrs. Bard so much like what he 
had imagined an older sister would be — so thought- 
ful about the little things that worried him, and kind 
to tell him what was best to do— that in the few 
days he had been there he had become a member 
of the family and asked her advice freely. 

“Certainly, Reuben.” 

“Are the girls here— that is, ought I— Well, 
what must I do ? ” 


92 


Reuben. 


“Nothing, Reuben. Just be yourself. Are you 
afraid of me?” 

“Why, no. How could I be? You have under- 
stood me all the time.” 

“ So I have ; but that is because you have not 
pretended to be what you are not. Sensible girls 
despise pretense, and see through shams as quickly 
as boys ; but they sometimes are too polite to 
show it.” 

“ I never went in company much, and — ” 

“ Now wait a minute, Reuben. Isn’t your mother 
a lady? Keep her in your mind. You are one of 
our family too, now ; think of that ! Do what you 
can do best ; and be sure of this, you can do some- 
thing better than any one in that party to morrow. 
If you get a chance to do that, do it ; and, mark my 
word, the rest will freely and cordially praise you 
and really honor you.” 

“ But I never knew any of them — the girls, I 
mean. Jim said I was to go with his sister 
Jessie.” 

“ Jessie McGrew ! A sweeter girl does not live 
in Shackelford. She is so sensible — just like Jim.” 

“ As easy to please and kind as he is ? ” 

“Yes; more so, if any thing. Who are others 
of the party? ” 

“ I do not remember all ; I think Andrew Mat- 
thews is the name of one other.” 


The Nutting Party. 


93 


“ O, Andrew ; yes. I know him ; he is a perfect 
gentleman, quiet and steady.”^ 

Reuben felt his fears vanish as Mrs. Bard went on 
to give him word-pictures of the boys and girls of 
the party. He began to feel that he knew them 
before he had met them. 

“ Well, well ! Another task put on my shoul- 
ders,” said Mr. Bard, wearily, as he sat down to 
supper. 

“What now, dear?” asked his wife. 

“Well, you see, Mr. Thompson has gone South 
with his wife, to be gone two or three weeks, and 
left his team for me to look after. I don’t mind 
the work, but I am actually afraid to work around 
horses. The last thing he said, as the ’bus left the 
store-door, was, ‘ Bard, exercise them a little every 
day, or they’ll get wild.’ I’d as soon he’d said, 
‘Bard, put your head in a lion’s mouth every day.’” 

All this was music to Reuben’s ears. Besides 
his mother he had missed nothing more than the 
horses. Every day he thought of the gallops he 
had taken over the fields to bring up the cows 
from the far pasture, skimming over the ground on 
Hector, the iron-gray three-year-old, without saddle 
or bridle, only a halter strap looped over the lower 
jaw of the prancing but teachable and gentle steed. 

“Would you be afraid to let me do it for you?” 
Reuben asked, anxiously. 


94 


Reuben. 


“ Bless you, no ! I would be afraid not to. Will 
you do it? Have you time?” 

“ O, yes ; I can do it. Will get up a little ear- 
lier.” 

“ What a load that takes off my mind ! Ever 
since Thompson left I have been wondering how 
I would look with a broken arm or a nipped-off 
nose ; for there are very few horses that wont bite 
at me or kick when I go near them.” 

‘‘That’s because you are afraid,” said Reuben. 
“ Horses know. They love to be bossed.” 

“Well, I am afraid; and always was. Td rather 
walk three miles than drive a horse one.” 

After supper was over Mr. Bard pushed back his 
chair and said, 

“ Well, Reuben, you have taken such a load off 
my mind that ask what you will I will do it for 
you.” 

“ I am afraid you wouldn’t ; for I have just been 
thinking of what I would like to have.” 

“What’s that? I am in a giving mood.” 

“ Well, permission to drive Mr. Thompson’s 
horses to the Furnace to-morrow.” 

“What’s going on there? Some kind of a pic- 
nic?” 

“ A nutting party.” 

“You can, as far as I am concerned, if you will 
risk their running away with you. Going alone ?” 


The Nutting Party. 


95 


Then Reuben explained the plan, and frankly con- 
fessed that he wanted to take the team so as not to 
incur the expense of hiring a livery team. 

“ The best thing yet ! ” exclaimed Jim McGrew, 
as Reuben explained the plan to him a half-hour 
later. “ Every team in the stable is engaged for to- 
morrow. It is such fine weather that every body is 
going to the woods.” 

Reuben went home in a glow of cheerfulness, un- 
der the impression that he was conferring a favor 
on at least one party of excursionists. 

Reuben’s plan made it necessary for him to take 
his team to Dr. McGrew’s and get the wagon, and 
then, with Jim as guide, drive to the homes of 
the four young ladies who were to form the party, 
returning to the doctor’s for Jessie, and the other 
boys were to be there at the appointed hour. 
This procedure enabled Reuben to meet the com- 
pany one at a time, instead of facing them all at 
once as he at first thought he should do. At the 
doctor’s he sprang lightly out of the wagon, and, 
with more grace than he thought possible, helped 
Jessie to climb into the big wagon. He had 
watched Jim perform the same duty at each of the 
homes where they had called before. He profited 
by the experience, and found himself seated com- 
fortably as well as prominently in the merry load 
of nut hunters. They did not wait for the other 


Reuben. 


96 

wagon but drove at once for the Furnace, a resort 
for picnic parties, on Brullett’s Creek, named after 
a worn-out and primitive furnace for smelting iron 
ore ; a practice abandoned years before in that 
region as profitless. 

Reuben found the prancing horses demanded all 
his attention. He felt that he ought to say some- 
thing to his companion, but every thing he could 
think of seemed so trivial and out of place that he 
grew confused under the prolonged silence on his 
part. 

But Miss Jessie was not silent. Turning partly 
about on the seat she kept up an animated conver- 
sation with the other four girls and the four boys. 
It was easily seen that she was a favorite, and at the 
same time, without effort, the leader of the party, 
outranking even Jim, who smiled, chatted, laughed 
with all, but admired his sister above all ; deferring 
to her wishes and coinciding with her views in 
almost every thing, not because he had to, but 
because he seemed to be never so happy as when 
yielding to her. Her personal appearance was 
not a whit inferior to her grace of manner and her 
amiability of temper. A pen-picture would do her 
injustice, for no words could sufficiently portray 
the symmetry of her form, no term could convey 
to the mind the regularity of her features and the 
peachiness of her cheeks, nor could any adjective 


The Nutting Party. 


. 97 


express fully the quality of her eyes or the profuse 
loveliness of her hair, not to mention the perfect- 
ness of her mouth or the beauty of her teeth. 

“ Girls, do you remember that last nutting- 
party ? ” 

“ Down at Sugar Creek ? ” asked all, in a breath. 

‘‘ Yes ; last year about this time.” 

“ Can we ever forget it ! ” exclaimed one. 

I never was frightened so much in all my life/* 
said another. 

“ I thought we would all be killed before we got 
home,” said a third. 

“ No wonder,” said Miss Jessie. “ We had a 
hired driver, and he didn’t seem to care where 
he went — off a bridge, down into a ditch, or over 
stumps.” 

“ I was so afraid all the time that I didn’t enjoy 
it a bit,” said one, and then, lowering her voice to 
speak to her seat-mate, she added, I am not afraid 
to-day one bit.” 

The words were not intended for Reuben’s ears, 
but the breeze carried them to him from the rear 
seat, where the young lady sat, so they seemed to 
have been spoken in his ear. He was strangely 
thrilled by this compliment, and recalled Mrs. 
Bard’s words to him the night before. 

The young lady just in front of the one who 

spoke first replied to her, speaking low, but the 

7 


Reuben. 


98 

treacherous wind again caught the words and poured 
them into Reuben’s ear. 

“ He picks out all the smooth places. Some 
drivers never make any difference, but take it as it 
comes.” 

After a few miles had been traveled the horses 
had wearied themselves sufficiently to drop into a 
steady gait and permit Reuben to relax his close 
attention to them. 

“ One accomplishment I sincerely covet,” said 
Miss Jessie, speaking directly to Reuben, “ and that 
is to drive horses well.” 

“ It is a good thing,” said Reuben, and was im- 
mediately ashamed he had said it, for it seemed so 
commonplace, and, associated in his mind with what 
had been said about his driving, it appeared self- 
praise which was in striking contrast to Miss Jes- 
sie’s admission that she could not manage horses. 

“ Papa often lets me drive when he is along, but 
he warns me never to undertake it without him.” 

Reuben had just made up his mind to offer her 
the lines when she said this, and he shuddered to 
think how near he came to doing what would have 
brought him into disgrace in his own estimation if 
she declined to accept his offer to surrender his 
place to her. 

“ Your father’s right,” he said, but the words 
were not out of his mouth before he saw that they 


The Nutting Party. 


99 


implied that she could not be trusted or was in- 
competent, and he was sorry that he could not 
be complimentary as the other young men in the 
wagon were ; for he caught snatches of their con- 
versation, and every word seemed appropriate and 
gracious. 

“ Certainly,” said Miss Jessie. “ I have implicit 
confidence in papa’s judgment. I never think of 
driving if he is not along.” 

“ My father never drives if I am along,” said 
Reuben. 

He meant to imply that he had plenty of chances 
for learning the art, but he saw that she could easily 
construe the remark into an intimation that he was 
her superior. He blushed while she replied gayly : 

“ He has no need to, since you do so well.” 

“ I should be glad to return the compliment,” 
said Reuben, quickly, and as quickly saw, when it 
was too late, that his attempt to say that she de- 
served praise for many things better than driving 
horses, really meant that he was sorry she could not 
drive as well as he could. 

“ I shall not grieve over that as long as you are 
with us,” she replied, “ for I feel perfectly satisfied 
as it is.” 

Reuben was disgusted with his feeble attempts 
at being agreeable, and feared to say any thing 
more lest he should positively offend. Miss Jessie 


lOO 


Reuben. 


turned her attention to the rest of the company, 
and left Reuben alone with his thoughts. They 
were not very pleasant. Had his companion been 
any one besides James’s sister he would not have 
cared so much, but to be unintentionally rude to 
her was a very grievous reflection. His distress 
was increased by the knowledge that she and the 
others had praised him without stint. He earnestly 
desired to find an opportunity to atone for his neg- 
lect and ungraciousness. 

“ Jim,” said Jessie, “ let us drive up to that house 
and get a drink. I am famishing for water.” 

“ Certainly, sister. Reuben, stop at that house 
on the right. The well is right near the road. 
Good water, too.” 

Reuben drove up as directed. Jim sprang out 
and ran into the house for pitcher and glass. 

“ May be those folks are clean and may be they 
are not,” said Miss Jessie. I know this is clean,” 
she said, reaching into her huge lunch-basket and 
bringing out a bright, clean tin pail. 

Reuben supposed she would wait until Jim came 
back, but she surprised him by taking the lines from 
his hands and saying, as she held out the pail and a 
silver mug : 

“ May I trouble you, Mr. Ricketts?” 

“ O, I forgot,” said Reuben, catching at the arti- 
cles and tumbling awkwardly out of the wagon. 


The NuTTtNG Party. . loi 

dropping the pail in the dust and flinging the cup 
out of reach. 

They all laughed. They could not help it. Miss 
Jessie laughed too. When they saw that Reuben 
picked up pail and cup and looked at the gay com- 
pany reproachfully, with a very red face, they 
ceased instantly, while Andrew Matthews sprang 
lightly out, saying : 

“ Pardon me, Mr. Ricketts. I should have done 
that, since you have the horses to attend to.” 

“Just rinse the pail and wipe the cup on this 
napkin. It fell on the clean grass, anyway,” said 
Miss Jessie ; and added kindly, “ It was all my fault. 
I let go before he got hold of them.” 

When they resumed their journey Reuben was so 
mortified that he dared not trust himself to speak. 
One of his weaknesses was to burst into tears when 
greatly chagrined or when his feelings were hurt. 
He struggled manfully with this frailty, but, in spite 
of his efforts, tears rolled down his face and dropped 
on his hands, while his body trembled under the 
suppressed emotion. 

“Are you hurt, Mr. Ricketts? I hope you will 
pardon me for laughing. It was very rude and un- 
kind in me.” 

He pulled his big straw-hat down over his eyes 
but did not reply, simply because he could not speak. 
He felt in one coat-pocket and then in another for his 


102 


Reuben. 


handkerchief, and repeated the motions, but with- 
out finding that article. He meant to bring a clean 
one, but really had brought none. The sun was 
beaming uncomfortably warm, and each seat had 
an umbrella raised which dropped low in front to 
shut off the sun, as their road lay just then through 
a small prairie, and also shut off the seat Reuben 
was on from all the rest. 

“Take mine; please do,” said Miss Jessie. “I 
always take a supply when Jim goes with me, he 
so often forgets his.” 

Reuben shook his head. 

“ Please do, or I’ll think you are angry at me for 
laughing.” 

To avoid such an undesirable conclusion Reuben 
took the offered handkerchief, a dainty article, which 
was soon thoroughly saturated with tears. The 
only thing for him to do then was to put it in his 
pocket to take home to be laundried. When the 
umbrellas were closed as the wagon rolled into the 
woods where the halt was to be made Reuben had 
regained his composure but had not found his 
tongue. 

He was glad, for an excuse to get away from the 
company, to lead the horses down to the creek for 
water. He stayed longer than was really necessary, 
hoping the company had separated in search for 
nuts, and he could lose himself from them without 


The Nutting Party. 


103 

seeming to want to do so. He lost all hope of tak- 
ing his part with success. 

When he returned with the horses he found Jes- 
sie seated on a stump waiting for him. 

“ The rest have gone down to the furnace to look 
through the ovens. I told Jim I would wait and 
show you the way.” 

“Thank you,” said Reuben, with a smile. 

He securely tied the horses where they could pick 
the grass, arranged the articles in the wagon so as 
not to attract the attention of any chance passer-by, 
and said: 

“ I am ready now, Miss Jessie.” 

They turned to go in the direction the others 
had taken when Reuben said, with hesitation : 

“ Can you excuse me for crying like a baby ? I 
am ashamed of it.” 

“ No apologies are needed. You had just cause 
for feeling hurt. I am sure, though, the rest of 
the girls never meant to be rude.” 

“ I didn’t mind that. What hurt me most was 
that coming out here every thing I said was just 
what I didn’t mean.” 

“You didn’t say much,” said Jessie kindly, with 
a merry twinkle in her eyes ; “ so you didn’t do 
very wrong.” 

To divert his mind from a subject that she knew 
was unpleasant she said, 


104 


Reuben. 


“ How do you like your home with Mrs. Bard ? 
She is so much of a lady ! ” 

“Very much. She seems like a sister.” 

Then Reuben remembered what Mrs. Bard had 
said about Jessie. His mind quickly reviewed 
all of their conversation and fastened on the injunc- 
tion “ Be yourself, and pretend to be nothing you 
are not.” Instantly he saw he had been trying to be 
the polished gentleman Jim McGrew was, who had 
grown up in the midst of the highest culture and 
refinement of Shackelford. He was only a good- 
natured, ambitious, intelligent, but untrained farmer 
boy. He determined to drop back into his old self, 
and act and talk as he would at home with his moth- 
er, let the consequences be what they might. This 
determination brought calmness to his mind. He 
lifted his head, pushed back his big straw-hat, and 
stepped along with Jessie with the same assurance 
he would have gone to the orchard with his mother. 
His face, which had been dark and sullen with ill 
will, became bright and attractive. The sudden 
transformation of Reuben’s countenance attracted 
Jessie’s attention and puzzled her, but she did not 
stop to inquire into the cause. She had felt that 
he was a burden on her hands, but now he became 
a gallant, indeed. 

When they' reached the furnace, Reuben stooped 
and pulled up a piece of iron ore, and said: 


The Nutting Party. 


105 

“ That is curious — the shape, I mean. What is 
it, Miss Jessie? ” 

“ Iron ore, partly melted ; were you never here 
before ? ” 

“ No ; home and Shackelford are about the only 
places I have ever been.” 

“ Then you have a wide, wide field to travel over. 
Papa has taken me every summer for six years to 
some new place. I just got home last week. That 
is why I didn’t go to school this week. I have trav- 
eled so far that papa thought I needed rest.” 

“ I should like to go to Europe and see the old 
castles ! ” said Reuben, earnestly. “ May be I will 
some day.” 

“ There is so much in our own land to see,” sug- 
gested Jessie. 

“Yes, but — you will laugh now, I know — our 
family — that is, my mother’s people — came from 
kings.” 

“How romantic !” laughed Jessie. “Then you 
are a prince in disguise? ” 

“ I hope so,” said Reuben. “ I am sure I am dis- 
guised. This is not a prince’s hat,” he said, taking 
off his ungainly straw-hat. 

“ But if you should turn out to be a real prince 
you would like to keep that hat to show your 
friends. It is not a bad hat, either.” 

“ I should say not ! It turns water, keeps out 


io6 


Reuben. 


the sun, is self-ventilating, measures a half peck of 
apples, will hold a multitude of tears ! ” 

“That is more than mine will do,” said Jessie, 
taking off her hat to readjust some stray locks of 
hair. 

“ But where are the rest ? ” asked Reuben, look- 
ing in vain for the company. 

Let us sit here, They will be back this way in 
a few minutes.” 

“Yes, I would rather. I don’t like to get out of 
sight of the team,” Reuben said. “ Shall I carry 
this stone up there for a stool for you ? ” 

“ If you please. Now tell me about your being 
a prince.” 

“ O, ho ! ” laughed Reuben. “ That was one of 
Grandfather Griffith’s notions. He could trace the 
family away back to William the Conqueror.” 

“ Really and truly? ” 

“ He said so, and mother believes it.” 

“ How grand that is ! Then you are a prince,” 
said Jessie, warmly. 

Reuben blushed under her steady and appre- 
ciative gaze, and stammered, 

“ I want to be, but am afraid not — yet.” 

“ I know you can be if you want to.” 

“ Do you?” he asked, with a start of pleasure at 
this mark of confidence in his ability to make some- 
thing of himself. 


The Nutting Party. 


07 


If I will tell you how will you try?” said Jessie, 
the color coming to her own face as she thought of 
the achievement within her reach almost. 

“Will I try? Miss Jessie, I am trying now.” 

“ I believe you are. I wanted to show you a 
short way, though. Not an easy way, perhaps ; 
but a short way.” 

She hesitated, knowing full well that she was talk- 
ing about one thing and Reuben was thinking about 
another. Tradition had taught him that his claim 
to royalty rested in the house of William the Con- 
queror. Jessie did not dispute such a claim, nor 
even doubt it, but she was aiming to use that pleas- 
ant tradition as an open door to a grander possibil- 
ity. What would his connection by remote ties of 
blood to the famous king of England avail in his 
present need ? But if she could make him under- 
stand the possibility of tracing his lineage to a King 
ever living and ever present, the result would be 
great comfort for him and helpfulness in the time 
of his weakness. 

“And a sure way?” he asked. “ I am not seek- 
ing a short way, nor an easy way, but a sure way.” 

“ Mr. Ricketts, we came out here—” 

“ Say ‘ Reuben,’ please ; I was never called any 
thing but ‘ Reuben ’ until I came here, and it makes 
me feel as if I am not myself.” 

“ Well, Reuben, then,” laughed Jessie. “ I would 


io8 


Reuben. 


rather say that. I will tell you why some time, but 
not now. We came out here to have a pleasant time 
gathering nuts, and I do not want to spoil the day 
for you by any of my curious ideas and ‘ old folks ' 
talk.” 

“ Nuts are nothing to me. I have nearly a barrel 
full at home from last year. There hasn’t been 
much frost yet anyway. Unless the wind blows 
hard none will fall to-day.” 

“ I cannot tell you now what I wanted to,” said 
Jessie. “I see the others coming. I would have 
to tell you a story that I have read, before I could 
make you understand. Will you remember it, and 
ask me some other time to tell you?” 

“ Indeed, I will,” he said earnestly. 

“No nuts to-day,” said Jim, throwing himself on 
the grass ; “ but we can have a good time anyway.” 

“ Did you ever see so many squirrels ? ” said 
Andrew. “ I believe they know we have no gun 
with us.” 

“Now, Andrew,” said Jim, “what possible dif- 
ference could it make to the squirrels whether we 
have a gun or not ?” 

“ If I had one I would show you,” said Andrew. 

“ Well, here goes for a little experiment,” said 
Jim. “Just over the creek, there, is where one of 
father’s tenants lives on a little farm. He has a 
splendid rifle, and will let me have it, I know.” 


The Nutting Party. 109 

In a few minutes he returned with the rifle, the 
powder-horn and shot-pouch. 

“ He loaded for me and showed me how,” said 
Jim. “Now, Andrew, if you will get that gray 
squirrel I will clean it and cook it for our dinner!” 

“ No, thank you ; ” said Andrew ; “ after you ! ” 

Each of the other young men declined to be the 
first to test his skill as marksman. 

“Would you like to try?” said Jim to Reuben, 
with a tone which implied that as all had refused 
no one would expect him to undertake the task. 

“Yes,” said Reuben, “if your promise to him 
will stand good.” 

“ O certainly — and eat it, too,” laughed Jim. 

A squirrel was in plain sight, creeping up the 
trunk of a tree, winding around and around as it 
climbed higher, running out on a limb and then 
jumping to a higher one, jumping again and again, 
until it was almost hidden— indeed, it was hidden 
from all except Reuben. He stood with the gun 
ready several steps in front of the group of young 
men, while the girls had run farther to the rear, 
holding their hands to their ears and shrugging 
their shoulders to shut out the sound of the report 
of the gun. 

“You have lost that squirrel,” said Andrew. 

“ Why didn’t you take him when lower down ?’* 
asked Jim. 


no 


Reuben. 


“ Too slow by odds,” said another. 

“ It takes a quick aim and a steady arm to bring 
a squirrel,” said another. 

“Do you see him?” said Reuben, looking back 
at the boys. 

“ No, and never will again,” said Andrew. 

Reuben put the rifle to his shoulder, and before 
the boys could breathe twice, the clean, clear, and 
faint report of the rifle startled them, while the girls, 
seeing the smoke, dropped their hands, exclaiming, 
“ What a splendid gun! It made no noise at all.” 

“ Get your squirrel,” said Reuben, turning to Jim, 
“while I load for another.” 

“Shall I climb the tree, or cut it down?” said 
Jim, with a smile, for no game had fallen. 

“ He will come down to you,” said Reuben, 
pouring out a measure of powder for another 
load. 

At the same instant there was a rustling of leaves 
on the tree-top. The next moment the rear portion 
of the squirrel dropped while the fore feet clung to 
the perch^ There was a momentary struggle, and 
then followed a rustle of leaves from the top to the 
lowest bough, when the squirrel was seen tumbling 
over and over to the ground. 

“01” said the girls. 

“ Well done ! ” exclaimed Jim. 

“ Was it an accident ? ” asked Andrew. 


The Nutting Party. 


1 1 1 


“ The squirrel thought it was,” said Reuben. 

“ I have done that,” said Andrew. 

“Well, you try now,” said Reuben, handing him 
the loaded gun. “ I see another over there.” 

“ I am not used to this gun,” said Andrew, tak- 
ing it to examine. “ I guess I’ll not try.” 

“The temptation is too great,” said Reuben, 
stepping briskly forward ; and before any could 
guess his intention the gun was at his shoulder, and 
immediately after the report of its discharge a 
squirrel dropped headlong to the ground. 

“ I had a good sight of that fellow’s head,” said 
the marksman, again loading quickly, as though he 
were preparing to meet an advancing foe. “ There 
is another over there ! ” as the boys came to where 
he stood, and Jim put the second one into the hand 
that held the other by one foot. 

Stepping around the tree to get a better view, 
another squirrel sprang into the air from the limb 
where it had stood. 

“ One miss ! ” shouted Andrew, while Reuben 
dropped his gun into position to load again. 

“ Missed his hold, you mean,’’ said Reuben, his 
face aglow with excitement, and his big straw-hat 
pushed far back on his head ; for the squirrel 
pitched head first to the ground, his tail streaming 
out like a banner. 

“Yes; that is what I meant to say,” said An- 


112 


Reuben. 


drew, having thus become converted from his the- 
ory of “ accident ” in the case of the first. 

“ Is that enough?” said Reuben to Jim. 

“ Go on ! go on ! ” shouted the boys. “ This is 
better than nuts ! ” 

By this time they had wandered down and around 
a little hill which hid them from the girls and put 
them beyond the reach of their cries to let “ the 
pretty things alone.” 

“ Well, two more will make one apiece for us 
boys,” said Reuben. Surely no hunter has been 
in these woods lately.” 

“How do you find them ?” asked Andrew. “I 
have seen but one yet, and here you have three.” 

“ Just look along this gun and you will see one,” 
said Reuben, holding the rifle in position while An- 
drew stepped up behind him and sighted along the 
barrel. 

“ I don’t see any,” he said. 

“You don’t? He is there ‘as large as life, and 
twice as natural.’ Now look.” With the last word 
he touched the trigger. 

“ I see him now,” said Andrew, as the squirrel 
ran along the limb and then rolled off to the 
ground. 

“ My aim was a trifle bad because I was talking,” 
said Reuben, apologizing for the lack of a head 
shot. 


The Nutting Party. 


113 

** If you call that bad you ought to see me shoot ! ” 
said Jim, with a smile. 

“ Well, you take the next one,” said Reuben. 

“ No, thank you ; not to-day.” 

“You look for another, boys, while I make some 
patchin’. It is all gone.” 

Reuben took off his old straw-hat and cut out a 
piece of the sweat band to use for patchin’. When 
he was ready the boys had not found any game, 
though they had each taken a different direction 
and were peering up into the trees, stepping softly 
over the ground. Reuben followed in the direc- 
tion Jim had gone. In a few minutes another re- 
port rang out. The boys turned about to see what 
it meant, and Reuben stooped to pick up a squirrel 
which had dropped almost at his feet ; for he shot 
it from its perch directly over his head. 

“ That’s the last bullet, and we will have to quit,” 
said Reuben, as they came up and he handed the 
fifth squirrel to Jim. 

“ I should be in favor of making a wTeath of 
laurel for our hero,” said Jessie, as they rejoined 
the girls, “ if he had not gained his fame by taking 
the lives of these innocent creatures.” 

“ Not an}’’ more innocent than the lambs, the cat- 
tle, and other animals we kill,” said Reuben ; and 
then, catching the reproving look of Jessie, he 

added, with surprising dignity, lifting his straw- 
8 


Reuben. 


1 14 

hat and bowing low, I am sorry to offend 

ff 

you. 

“When I take the gun back,” said Jim, “ I will, 
by your permission, Reuben, take a squirrel to the 
family there.” 

“ Certainly ; take all of them, for we cannot dress 
them here,” said Reuben. 

“A good day’s work,” said Jim, as he and An- 
drew returned from the house. “Mr. Jones said 
he would take them to town and trade them for a 
new hat.” 

“You might have — ” said Jessie, looking at Reu- 
ben, but did not finish the remark, suddenly remem- 
bering that his hat was strangely out of keeping 
with those of the other boys. 

Reuben caught the hint, though, and it took 
away all the keen pleasure he had felt in coming 
out of the little hunting expedition with such 
honor. He imagined that Jessie said it to retali- 
ate upon him for having killed the squirrels. She 
had heard the warm commendation of the other 
boys, who extolled Reuben’s skill in extravagant 
but sincere terms, and could not have failed to note 
how gratefully he received their recognition of su- 
periority over them in one respect at least. His 
heart had burned with the thought that the girls 
had appreciated his horsemanship, and that the boys 
had turned their jesting at his skill as a hunter 


The Nutting Party. 115 

into unqualified praise. But this suggestion that 
his attire was not just what it ought to be robbed 
the triumph of its sweetness. 

On the way home, after a dinner in the woods — 
in which the other load of young people joined, 
having been delayed by a broken wheel — Jessie 
found occasion to say, so only Reuben could hear, 
“ Indeed, I did not mean to wound you by what I 
almost said about your hat.” 

“ I believe you, now ; but I thought you did 
then,” he said. 

“ Some time I will tell you about that Prince, 
if you want me to,” she said, as they drove into 
town. 


i6 


Reuben. 


CHAPTER IX. 

A SABBATH-DAY’S JOURNEY. 

When Reuben awoke next morning, and remem- 
bered it was the Sabbath, he wondered what he 
should do with himself through all its hours. He 
attended to the work he had engaged to do, includ- 
ing the care of Mr. Thompson’s horses, and found 
when he returned to the house that, though it was 
Sunday morning, breakfast was nearly ready, and that 
Mr. Bard was dressed for church. Reuben followed 
the example thus set, and put his best clothes on, 
which were different from his every-day garments 
because newer, but very much like them in quality 
and style, except that they were “ready-made” in- 
stead of home-made as were the others. He had 
no change of hat to match his new suit. 

“ Will you go to Sunday-school with me ? ” asked 
Mr. Bard, as he arose to leave the breakfast table. 

His tone and manner indicated strongly that he 
expected Reuben to say yes, and he did. 

“ I will leave Margie at mother’s,” said Mrs. 
Bard, “ and go too.” 

When they were ready, and called Reuben, he 


A Sabbath-Day’s Journey. 117 

hesitated, and said, “You go on; I will come in a 
minute. I can catch you.” 

“ O, we will wait,” said Mr. Bard ; “there is plenty 
of time.” 

That is what Reuben did not want them to do. 
Mr. Bard was finely dressed. His tall silk hat was 
in very strong contrast to Reuben’s straw; his soft, 
smooth, black broadcloth coat, double-breasted and 
buttoned up, was the other extreme of Reuben’s 
cotton and wool mixed coat, rough in texture, hard 
to the touch, creased in the back and wrinkled 
about the shoulders, and bearing other evidence of 
shelf wear. It was too small to button, and gaped 
open in a most annoying manner. The vest had a 
fullness across the breast which Reuben had not 
noticed until he saw Mr. Bard in the kitchen with 
his coat off and observed that his vest had no puck- 
ering tendency, but lay snug to his body. Reuben’s 
trousers were a trifle short, and had down each leg, 
front and back, protruding and unseemly fold welts. 
Mr. Bard’s hung straight and smooth, front and 
rear, from hip to foot. 

Mrs. Bard’s attire was faultless in Reuben’s eye : 
a black silk dress, a black mantle trimmed with 
bead ornaments, a black bonnet to match, with 
bright ribbons and flowers. Reuben noticed that 
both wore gloves. He had none. He hoped they 
w’ould go ahead and let him follow after. He 


ii8 Reuben. 

heard Mr. Bard putting the key into the front door 
and knew they were waiting for him to come out 
so they could lock the door. He hastened out and 
found them chatting with a passing friend. He 
hoped they would join the friend and permit him 
to go alone. They had no idea of doing that. 

When out of the gate Mrs. Bard took the inside 
of the walk, her husband stepped to the outside, 
leaving a space between for Reuben. 

A convict being led to prison could not have felt 
much worse than Reuben did in that position. He 
tried to think of some excuse for returning, but 
none came to him. 

As they neared the church his distress increased, 
for they mingled in the throng going to the same 
place of worship. Reuben thought Mr. Bard very 
popular, for nearly every one spoke to him and cast 
an inquiring look at Reuben. When they overtook a 
couple they would turn half about to say something 
to Mr. Bard, the meanwhile bending their gaze on 
Reuben. If a couple overtook them Mr. Bard 
would turn partly around and walk foot over foot, 
grasping Reuben's arm to steady himself, while the 
boy could almost feel the burning of their gaze upon 
his back right where the crease in his coat. was. 

When the church was reached Reuben felt a great 
load removed from his mind when the straw-hat 
was thrust out of sight under the seat. He was 


A Sabbath-Day’s Journey. 119 

thankful that the place reserved for visitors was near 
the door. He sank down in the place pointed out 
by Mr. Bard, and would have been glad if he could 
have Iain down beside his hat. 

He soon forgot himself, however, in wonder at 
what he saw and heard. His acquaintance with 
churches was limited to the school-house in his 
neighborhood, where religious services were held 
once a month, and the chapel, several miles from 
his home, where he went several times on special 
occasions. They were but little else than “ meet- 
ing-houses,” indeed. Bare floors, bare walls, and 
bare benches combined to make the interior barren 
of all attractiveness to one not prompted by a rigid 
sense of duty as a worshiper. 

Reuben saw that the floor of the Shackelford 
church was entirely covered with carpet so heavy 
and fine that foot-falls were not heard, and that 
there came from beneath a sense of restfulness as 
he pressed his feet against the soft and yielding 
fabric. The seat into which he had been shown 
was provided with a cushion, and the back was up- 
holstered. The windows were of stained glass of 
many colors. The walls and ceiling were richly pa- 
pered. The pulpit and its furniture were in keeping 
with the other interior comforts and adornments. 

As the school crowded into the spacious room 
Reuben was glad to see that, while many were ele- 


20 


Reuben. 


gantly dressed, there were also a large number who 
appeared to be in his condition. He was pleased 
to note that others had straw-hats in their hands, 
and some wore as ungainly garments as his. These 
seemed to be as much at home as the others. 

When time to open the school arrived Professor 
Johnson appeared and took charge of the exercises; 
and Reuben soon learned that the principal of the 
seminary was also superintendent of the Sunday- 
school. 

Reuben thought the singing at the seminary bet- 
ter than any music of that kind on earth, but when 
he heard the singing in that Sunday-school he was 
obliged to admit to himself that he was wrong, for 
the latter far excelled the former. Every voice in 
the large school seemed to join in the songs. The 
melodies were attractive, and the words inspiring to 
Reuben. He had never heard any thing like this. 
The earnestness with which the songs were sung 
thrilled him. Carried along on the flood of ambi- 
tious sentiment as voiced in the words, and lifted 
up in mind by the cheerful and swelling music, Reu- 
ben forgot his clothes and his previous embarrass- 
ment. With book in hand he followed the singing, 
reading the words as the others sang, and longing 
to join his voice with theirs, but daring not to trust 
himself, lest he make some ridiculous blunder. 

Mr. Bard was chorister, and Reuben thought that 


21 


A Sabbath-Day’s Journey. 

the songs selected were chosen for his especial bene- 
fit, for they seemed to fit his case. This supposed 
thoughtful interest of Mr. Bard in his welfare 
strongly moved Reuben’s heart, and he found him- 
self struggling to keep the tears back. 

His dreams the night before had been of kings 
and princes. His first thoughts in the morning 
were about the same things. His walk to church, 
however, had diverted his mind from the royal at- 
tire which had been his in his dreams, and brought 
him to a full realization how very far he was from 
the possession of purple robes. 

The church with its rich furnishings, the hurrying 
throng of finely dressed people, the grand music, 
the inspiring songs, revived the thoughts of nobility, 
and hurried Reuben away in fancy to imaginary 
battle-fields, daring achievements and triumphal 
processions in which he figured, not as chief actor, 
but as an attendant prince, gorgeously arrayed and 
riding a prancing steed. 

With a unanimity that surprised him, and a vigor 
that made his soul quiver in delight, the school sang : 

“ This life is a warfare, a warfare with sin, 

With Satan and his angels, and all the wicked train. 

And he who would a soldier be and battle for the Lord, 

Must buckle on the armor — the Spirit and the Word. 

I will fight under the banner of King Emanuel, 

For it is my choice, and I now rejoice 
To fight under the banner of King Emanuel.” 


1-22 


Reuben. 


After a short prayer another hymn was announced, 
and Reuben found himself keeping time to the mar- 
tial movement of the music with which the school 
sang gleefully these words : 

“We are marching on with shield and banner bright, 

We will work for God and battle for the right, 

We will praise his name, rejoicing in his might, 

And we’ll work till Jesus calls. 

Then awake ! Then awake ! Happy song ! Happy song ! 
Shout for joy ! Shout for joy ! As we gladly march along.” 

Reuben was sure that Mr. Bard must have guessed 
his thoughts, so perfectly did the singing accord 
with his feelings. 

After the opening exercises, when the school was 
breaking into classes, some going into the gallery, 
some into small rooms opening off the main room, 
and some others into the chapel, which also opened 
from the main room, Reuben saw Jim McGrew com- 
ing toward him with a smiling face. 

“ Come into our class, Reuben ; we have a splen- 
did teacher. Professor Johnson told me to ask 
you.” 

“ Does he know I am here ? ” asked Reuben, sup- 
posing he had not been noticed in the great crowd 
of other people. 

“ O, yes ; he saw you before I did, and told me to 
get you and take you with me. We go up-stairs, in 
the gallery.” 


A Sabbath-Day’s Journey. 123 

As soon as he stood up, and started to follow Jim, 
Reuben became painfully aware again that he was 
not a soldier dressed in bright and handsome uni- 
form, nor a prince in royal apparel following a king 
in triumph, but only an ignorant and awkward coun- 
try boy, with coarse clothing that imperfectly fitted 
him. He did not know what to do with his hat — 
whether to leave it under the seat where it had been 
thrust, or take it with him to the class. If he left 
it he feared some one might throw it away as worth- 
less, and leave him to go home bare-headed. If he 
took it with him he feared it would attract attention 
that he desired to avoid. He stooped and picked 
it up, and looked about as though hunting a place 
to put it. 

“ Let me have your hat,” said Jim ; “ I will put 
it in the library with mine.” 

As they passed out into the vestibule to go up 
into the gallery Jim stepped aside to leave the hat 
in the library, and came face to face with a familiar 
friend. 

“ What a queer waste-basket that is,” the friend 
said, not seeing Reuben, as he waited for Jim’s re- 
turn, a few paces away. 

“ Hist ! ” said Jim, in a whisper. 

“ What do you bed your horses with since you 
had this made ? ” his friend said, not heeding the 
word of warning. At that moment he saw Reu- 


124 


Reuben. 


ben, and turned quickly about, following Jim into 
the library, shrugging his shoulders and holding his 
nose to prevent his bursting into laughter. 

Reuben heard the words and saw the grimaces 
and suppressed mirth of Jim’s friend. Had he had 
his hat then he would have darted out of the church 
and fled home, for he ascribed the mirth to his ap- 
pearance and not to the grotesque hat. As it was, 
he could not run, and had to stand his ground and 
nerve himself for whatever new ignominies were in 
store for him. 

He took but little interest in the lesson and was 
glad when the hour came for closing the school. He 
had detected some whispered remarks, by members 
of the class, which his sensitive nature magnified 
into intentional insults. As a matter of fact, none 
of the class said any thing about him. The remarks 
he overheard were about other people. 

The first song sung after the school assembled 
for closing exercises Reuben was certain had been 
selected for him. Every one in the school, old and 
young, seemed to know both the words and the 
tune, and sang heartily : 

“O, do not be discouraged, 

For Jesus is your friend; 

O, do not be discouraged, 

For Jesus is your friend. 

He will give you grace to conquer, 

And keep you to the end.” 


125 


A Sabbath-Day’s Journey. 

He was discouraged, but he did not know how 
Mr. Bard knew it. He was surprised, too, that the 
book had songs suited to the various phases of his 
experience. He felt comforted, and gave attention 
to the reading of the secretary’s report and that 
of the treasurer. Then came another song that 
startled Reuben by the exhortation it contained, 
and inspired him with new ambition by the words 
of the refrain. The effect of this closing piece was 
heightened, so far as he was concerned, by a little 
incident that was purely accidental in its occur- 
rence. 

When the class came down from the gallery, Reu- 
ben continued with them, as they marched'to their 
seats in the main room, instead of returning to the 
place he had at first occupied. The class-seats were 
on the side of the pulpit. This position put them 
in front of the whole school. Reuben was last, and 
his. place was on the end of the seat. By turning 
half around he could see all the rest of the school. 
The song was another popular one, and all sang. 
The words were these : 

“We must never grow weary, 

Doing well, doing well, 

Though in time we reap no reward. 

For eternity will tell 
Yes, eternity will tell 

What a blessing rests on those who serve the Lord.” 


126 


Reuben. 


According to Mr. Bard’s suggestion these words 
were sung by the female voices alone, while all 
joined with splendid unanimity and “ lustiness ” in 
the chorus: 

“ O, ye stars, shine on, shine on, 

Far up in heaven’s own blue ; 

Some time, some time, I too^may shine, 

May shine as brightly as you.” 

As the first part was being sung, Reuben looked 
over in the direction of the singers. His eye met 
Jessie’s; she smiled a recognition but did not cease 
her singing. Then it seemed more than ever to 
Reuben that the song was meant to cheer him. 
Not only had Mr. Bard selected it for that purpose, 
but one, at least, beside the chorister, was calling 
him back to his chosen position as a prince indeed, 
and not in name only. 

When the hour and a half of the school session 
was gone Reuben felt that his experiences had 
been so varied, his feelings of exaltation so delight- 
ful, and his debasement in thought so deep and 
humiliating, his victories in fancy so triumphant, 
his defeat in mind so disastrous, his travel from 
poor boy to proud prince so real, and his return so 
sudden and painful, that he had lived in that short 
time half an ordinary life. He was strangely 
troubled, restless, ambitious, not knowing where or 
how to find peace, though earnestly desiring it. So 


A Sabbath-Day’s Journey. 127 

he took his place in Mr. Bard’s pew, at his request, 
without a thought of his shabby clothing, and was 
soon absorbed in what the preacher had to say. 

Strangely enough the text was in these words 
from Isaiah : “ And his name shall be called the 
Prince of Peace.” Reuben had never heard any 
preaching like that. The minister gave a brief but 
graphic account of the birth, life, death, and resur- 
rection of Jesus. Reuben had never before heard 
that story told connectedly. When the minister 
told of the homeless life of Jesus, of his rebuffs, 
of his afflictions at the hands of his brethren, of 
his betrayal, mock trial, and cruel death, Reuben 
followed eagerly, with a feeling that his life was, 
in measure, a counterpart of the one the minister 
described. He found himself pitying the lonely Naz- 
arene, then feeling drawn toward him in sympathy 
on account of similar trials; and, finally, captivated 
by the matchless patience, endurance, and heroic 
death of the Christ. When, in the conclusion, the 
speaker pictured the Prince of Peace as a great 
Captain, enlisting men to fight against ignorance, 
sin, and suffering; as the Conqueror of all conquer- 
ors ; as stopping the red tide of war, changing 
spears to pruning-hooks, and beating swords into 
plowshares ; making deserts to blossom as a rose in- 
stead of sweeping away populous cities and devas- 
tating rich valleys, Reuben found his martial ardor 


128 


Reuben, 


vanishing before the better desire to be counted 
as a follower of the Prince of Peace. He went 
home feeling that he had made a Sabbath-day’s 
journey toward the end he sought. He had been 
burning with a desire to do something. He was 
beginning to see what he could do, and was more 
than ever determined to learn how to do it well. 

He had not yet fully counted the cost of such a 
determination carried into effect. 


Some Clouds with Silver Linings. 129 


CHAPTER X. 

SOME CLOUDS WITH SILVER LININGS. 

Monday morning dawned gloriously. Reuben 
was at the stable of Mr. Thompson, attending to 
the beautiful team, when the sun first peeped above 
the eastern hills. As he walked homeward the 
streets were almost silent, as only here and there 
an early riser, like himself, was abroad. It was not 
the habit of the people of Shackelford to get up 
very early, for they were not driven from cozy 
couches by the stern demands of rushing commer- 
cial life. They looked to the products of the soil 
for maintenance instead of the fruits of loom and 
the output of factories. As Reuben noted that he 
had a part of his day’s work behind him before 
the most of the people in Shackelford had begun 
theirs he felt an inspiration that had not come to 
him before. He was imaginative in a high degree, 
and possessed much poetic fancy, though he did not 
know that his thoughts were out of the ordinary 
trend of youthful ideas. The trees were vocal with 
music of song birds. Reuben heard them, and said 

to himself, “ They are cheering me.” 

9 


130 


Reuben. 


He ran up the steps leading to his room door, 
after completing the outside work, determined to 
hold the advantage he had gained in rising early by 
putting unusual vigor and perseverance on his les- 
sons. When breakfast was announced he had so 
far mastered the lessons for the morning that he 
knew a few minutes’ review at the seminary would 
enable him to appear in his classes as fully prepared 
as any one there. That knowledge gave him cour- 
age and dignity of bearing that he could not have 
felt or shown had he been troubled by a fear of 
failure when called upon to recite. 

“ You need not get the wood and the water for 
me this morning, Reuben ; and the cow may stay in 
the lot until noon, when you will have more time 
to take her to pasture,” said Mrs. Bard, kindly, as 
Reuben prepared to attend to his usual duties. 

“ Why so ? ” he asked, in surprise. 

“ Well, you were away all day Saturday and at- 
tended church yesterday and last night, so you will 
need time to study before the bell rings,” she said, 
moving rapidly about to get her work done so as 
to have time to do Reuben’s share. 

“ I have my lessons,” he said, with a quiet 
smile. 

“ When did you learn them ? ” she asked in 
surprise. 

“ Before you were awake this morning. Anyhow, 


Some Clouds with Silver Linings. 13 i 

I will have another half-hour yet,” he said, his heart 
beating gladly under the approving look of Mrs. 
Bard. 

“ Never mind, my boy. Stick to it like that and 
you will win. Mark my word.” 

‘ My boy ! ’ ” said Reuben, in an undertone, as 
he passed out to get the day’s wood into the box, 
and he felt the warm blood suffuse his cheeks as 
his heart quickened its beat under this implied 
compliment. 

“ Mrs. Bard,” he said, a half-hour later, when the 
work was all done and even the cow in the pasture, 
“ it will be a week to-night since I came. I would 
like to know how much I owe for board. I can- 
not — ” 

“ Board ! ” said Mrs. Bard. “ Why, I never had 
a hired girl in my life that made my work as easy 
as you do. Please do not mention board, or I will 
think you are wanting me to pay you for your 
work ; ” and she merrily laughed. 

Reuben was completely surprised at this unex- 
pected announcement that he was really paying his 
way. As usual, when he was greatly moved, tears 
filled his eyes, and he was compelled to rush out, 
without replying to Mrs. Bard’s warm praise, to pre- 
verit her seeing his overflowing eyes. But she did 
see, in spite of his effort to hide his face from her, 
and to her the sight was more pleasing than any 


132 


Reuben. 


possible words of thanks Reuben could have ut- 
tered. 

As he walked briskly to school his way seemed 
perfectly clear for the whole term, if not the whole 
year of school. He had his books, and his board 
was provided for. He argued that if at any time 
Mrs. Bard should become dissatisfied with her bar- 
gain he could easily take on extra work to make up 
for any deficiency. He remembered that his mother 
had taught him to wipe and wash dishes, to churn 
and care for the butter, and even to pick and dress 
chickens. He counted his familiarity with these 
domestic duties as so much capital in reserve to 
draw on to keep Mrs. Bard willing to let him stay 
for what work he could do. He still had two dol- 
lars and a half with which to meet any expense he 
had not counted on. 

Reuben’s high spirits were not diminished a whit 
when he was received at the seminary with many 
marks of esteem by the boys who had attended 
the nutting party, and by overhearing his name 
coupled with remarks in which he caught the words 
“ five, without missing one,” and “ a crack shot, 
sure.” 

The stupid pupil, whose slowness and the teach- 
er’s impatient inquiry led Reuben into answering a 
question not directed to him the first day in school, 
had always manifested a friendliness for Reuben 


Some Clouds with Silver Linings. 133 

^which he explained to himself as a fellow-feeling, 
since both seemed so dull. This morning Reuben 
was surprised and pleased to have his friend come 
to him for assistance in working an example in 
arithmetic. He did not know that David Pingwell 
— for that was his friend’s name — had been turned 
away without help from every other member of the 
class, after he had exhausted their patience by his 
continual coming and continued ignorance, but sup- 
posed he came to him as the one above all others 
able to help him. Reuben had forgotten, in the 
moment of his success in mastering his lessons that 
morning, that David had before this been clinging 
to him fondly as one of his kind. It was with 
beaming countenance that he commenced to show 
David how to work the example. He did the work 
for him, explaining each step, and was hastening to 
triumphantly write the answer and hand the slate 
over to him, thinking him equally interested, when 
David said : 

“ Why didn’t your mother cut this coat to fit 
you ? ” 

Reuben looked up quickly, with a flashing eye, 
intending to resent the insult ; but when he met 
the dull gaze of his friend, and noticed his expres- 
sionless face, he knew no offense was intended, but 
that David had labored with that problem all the 
time Reuben was so nimbly covering the slate with 


134 


Reuben. 


figures and explaining the processes of solving the 
problem. So he said : 

“ She wanted to leave room for me to grow up 
to fit it.” 

This answer satisfied David, for it seemed to him 
to be a wise conclusion, and he smiled and said : 

“ That’s so.” 

“ Do you understand this ? ” said Reuben, tap- 
ping the slate with his pencil. 

David looked at it a minute and said, slowly: 

“ I don’t believe I do. Can’t you explain it 
again ? ” 

“ Yes ; now, if the man had three hundred dollars 
to start with — ” 

“ Where did he get the three hundred dollars?” 
asked David. 

Reuben looked at him again, and David looked at 
Reuben without changing expression or winking his 
eye. Reuben saw that he was not attempting to 
guy him, but was sincere in desiring to know. 

“ Out of the book here,” said Reuben. 

“ O — O ! ” said David, in almost a groan. 

Just at this point Professor Johnson passed the 
desk and left lying on it a card on which was writ- 
ten : “ Reuben Ricketts, tuition, twelve dollars and 
a half.” 

David read this card at the same time Reuben did. 

“ Haven’t you paid your tuition yet?” he asked. 


Some Clouds with Silver Linings. 135 

“ I paid mine the first day. Nearly all of us boys 
pay when we come — the very first day.” 

“ I didn’t know what mine would be,” said Reu- 
ben, apologetically, at the same time swallowing 
hard. The truth is, he thought the enrollment fee 
of five dollars which he had paid was all the money 
expected from him for that term. Suddenly Reuben 
lost all interest in the example he had been working, 
and heartily wished David would take his slate and 
go away. David had no such intention. He liked 
Reuben. 

“ The old professor makes it hot for the fellows 
that don’t pay up. I have heard him already tell 
a fellow he could take his books and go.” 

David’s eyes had a lively sparkle in them now. 

“ It’s lots of fun to see them pack up and scute,” 
said David. ** He’ll never get a chance to fire me. 
I have been coming to this old school about twelve 
years, and ma says I’ve got to go twelve more, she 
reckons. I don’t mind it. I’ve got used to it. I 
go into any class I want to. The old professor just 
lets me, ’cause pa wants me to. Do you think you 
will stick to it twelve years like I have ? ” 

“ I guess not,” said Reuben, scarcely hearing 
what David was saying, so busy was he with 
thoughts of how he could get the money to stay 
twelve weeks. 

What if he was a driver like Jehu in the eyes of 


136 


Reuben. 


the girls, or a hunter like Nimrod in the eyes of the 
boys ; that would not pay the twelve dollars and a 
half tuition ! What if he could churn and wipe 
dishes and milk the cow to pay his board ; what 
would he want with board in Shackelford if he had 
to be turned out of school because he could not 
settle his bill for tuition ? What if he did learn his 
lessons perfectly, and could wring praise from Mrs. 
Bard for his industry in studying while others 
slept ; what good were perfect lessons and no place 
to recite them ? The bright sky of his miorning 
thoughts was now overspread with black clouds 
that he momentarily expected to burst in a storm 
of disgrace on his head. 

He did not know but that a failure to hand out 
the tuition at once would result in his being pub- 
licly read out of school as a pauper, or, what was 
worse, as a pretender. He sat in his seat moodily 
brooding over the fate which awaited him, when he 
heard a voice right behind him say, 

“ Good-morning, Prince Reuben ! ” 

The next moment the speaker swept by, and he 
saw that Jessie had come to school and was going 
forward to speak to the principal. The rules of the 
seminary prevented any communication between 
the boys and girls inside the building except a 
simple exchange of greeting. This rule had an 
exception which permitted them to speak to each 


Some Clouds with Silver Linings. 137 

other about their lessons during study hours and 
under the eyes of their teachers. 

The principal greeted Jessie warmly, for she was 
no less a favorite pupil than a favorite associate 
with her acquaintances. While she was talking to 
the principal Reuben found a chance to nod to her 
a return for her salutation. 

“ What kind of a prince will I be when I am 
turned out of school because I cannot pay my 
tuition fee?” thought Reuben. 

Then he bitterly repented that he had spoken at 
all of the alleged connection of his mother’s family 
with that of William the Conqueror. He wished 
that he had not offered to take care of Mr. Thomp- 
son’s team. Then he would not have gone with 
the nutting party, for there would have been none 
— with no team to take the wagon out. Then he 
would not have pretended to be a prince. Then 
he would not have been lifted up by his good suc- 
cess in shooting, nor by the compliments upon his 
driving. He could have walked home Saturday 
and — glorious thought ! — 

“ Perhaps mother did find that money ! ” he said, 
half aloud. 

“What money?” asked Jim, who had come up 
to the desk just in time to catch the last words. 

“ O ! ” said Reuben, blushing, and hiding the 
ticket the principal had left, “ I was thinking about 


38 


REUBExN. 


paying my tuition.” And immediately he wished 
he had said nothing. 

“ That’s so,” said Jim, laughing. “ I haven’t paid 
mine yet.” 

“ Haven’t you?” asked Reuben, in glad surprise 
that he was not alone in the delinquency. 

“ No ; I forgot to bring the money this morn- 
ing.” 

Again Reuben’s rising spirits dropped. So it was 
really time to pay, and Jim had only forgotten ; but 
he had not money enough by ten dollars to meet 
the demand. 

If he could only get word to his mother he felt 
certain she could plan some way to raise the amount 
needed. If she had found the money Stauffer said 
he had lost, Reuben thought, he could get not 
only enough to pay his tuition, but also to buy him 
some better clothes ; or, rather, clothes that would 
fit him better. He clung to this hope as the only 
chance of his escape from disgrace. 

As soon as he saw the principal alone he went 
forward and put the ticket calling for tuition on the 
principal’s desk, intending to ask him about it. As 
he did so he saw the quid of tobacco still lying 
there as it had done since the day he threw it on 
the floor. 

“Well, Reuben?’’ said Professor Johnson, in- 
quiringly. 


Some Clouds with Silver Linings. 139 

“ Why — the money for — I have — ” and Reuben 
put his hand in his pocket to get the two dollars 
and a half, having concluded, since he commenced 
to talk, to pay what he had and ask permission to 
remain as long as that amount of money would pay 
for. 

“Just wait until noon hour or in the morning,” 
said the principal, kindly. “ I cannot attend to it 
now.” 

Reuben returned to his seat, wondering why he 
had not sooner thought of paying the tuition in 
installments. The twelve dollars and a half was for 
a term of twenty weeks, and what he had would pay 
for four weeks. So the evil day of his dismissal 
could be postponed that long at least. Under the 
influence of this view of the case Reuben was more 
cheerful, and was glad that he had used the early 
morning hours in study so as to make a good show- 
ing in his recitations and prevent the class from 
thinking he was a fit associate for David Pingwell. 

As the class went to the recitation-room Reuben 
said to Andrew Matthews, intending, really, to 
apologize for his past blunders, “ I will have my 
arithmetic lesson this morning, sure.” 

“ I expect you will,” said Andrew, “ for I saw 
Dave Pingwell helping you.” 

The idea of Dave helping any body was so pre- 
posterous that Andrew thought this was a sly way 


140 


Reuben. 


of complimenting Reuben on his unselfish interest 
in Dave’s progress, having himself gone through 
the trial of showing Dave how he got a lesson 
when he was thinking about something foreign to 
the subject in hand. 

But Reuben misunderstood, and the remark went 
like a poisoned arrow to his heart. So, after all, 
Andrew esteemed Dave above him as a student 
and scholar, and had supposed he was seeking help 
from Dave instead of wasting his time in explaining 
the lesson to him ! 

David had had energy enough to copy into the 
back of the book the work which Reuben left on 
his slate. By accident, apparently, that very exam- 
ple was assigned David for blackboard demon- 
stration. It was no accident, however, for Mr. 
Martin had purposely given him the easiest of all 
the examples in the lesson. In copying from the 
slate to the back of his book, and from his book to 
the blackboard, David made so many glaring mis- 
takes that, though the result was correct, the process 
as it appeared on the board was very silly. To the 
surprise of all David was the first to take his seat 
after the work was placed on the board. He was 
the last called upon to explain. Mr. Martin had 
looked over the work and determined as a possible 
incentive to better preparation in the future to 
overwhelm David with confusion. When it came 


Some Clouds with Silver Linings, i^i 

time for him to demonstrate Mr. Martin said the 
class should take position where they could all see 
the blackboard while David explained. 

David stood up, gracefully extended his arm, and 
let the pointer fall on the board near the answer. 

“No jumping at conclusions,” said Mr. Martin, 
good-humoredly. 

David understood this remark and sullenly lifted 
the pointer and let it fall at another place, looking 
around at the teacher as much as to say, “ Is that 
where to begin ? ” The teacher said nothing, and 
David turned toward the board and stood gazing 
at it intently for a minute without opening his 
mouth to speak. 

“ Do begin, David,” said the teacher, rather im- 
patiently. 

David shifted the pointer to the other hand and 
changed the position of his feet and looked appeal- 
ingly to the teacher, as much as to say, “ Give me a 
start.” 

“ Well ? ” said Mr. Martin. 

By this time the whole class had* looked over the 
work and detected its absurd deductions, its false 
equalities, its sums where remainders should have 
been written, and finally its correct answer following 
the preceding absurdities, after which was written 
with a flourish, “Answer, by David Swing Ping- 
well.” 


142 


Reuben. 


We are all waiting,” said Mr. Martin. 

David spread his legs apart, as if to brace himself, 
grasped the pointer with both hands, and leaned 
heavily against it as if he would push it through 
the wall. 

The class could restrain their mirth no longer, 
but burst into a roaring laugh. 

Mr. Martin permitted this to last a few seconds, 
and then touched his bell for silence. Immediately 
there was quiet, for they all knew by Mr. Martin's 
manner that he was intending to bring Dave into 
ridicule. One could have heard a pin drop. Da- 
vid had turned from the board and was facing the 
teacher and the class. 

“ David Pingwell,” he said earnestly, who 
showed you that way to get an example?” 

A broad smile lightened David’s face as he saw a 
chance to escape the blame for the faulty work, and 
immediately he sang out gleefully, 

“ Reuben Ricketts ! ” 

Again the class burst into uproarious mirth, sub- 
siding only after Mr. Martin had touched his bell 
time and again to restore order. At the same 
instant the assembly bell rang for the recitation to 
close, so Reuben had no chance to excuse himself 
or enter a protest against the unjust conclusion that 
he was as stupid as David, if not more so. 


Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver. 143 


CHAPTER XI. 

apples of gold in pictures of silver. 

When Reuben returned from the recitation-room 
he was not in a very amiable mood. He had been 
smarting under Andrew’s intended compliment, 
which he understood to be a jeer. The laughter 
of the class at David’s honest confession, which 
made him appear more stupid than ever, since he 
could not even copy an example correctly after it 
was properly worked ” for him, Reuben mistook 
for mirth at the mistakes which they supposed he 
had made, forgetting that his own problem had 
been quickly and neatly demonstrated and stood 
by the side of David’s bungling attempt, proof of 
his success amid difficulties. 

At the forenoon intermission Reuben remained 
at his desk, not caring to mingle with the boys and 
give them a chance to further wound his already 
lacerated feelings. 

Professor Johnson noticed him, and thought he 
was, perhaps, afflicted with homesickness, as he had 
appeared rather moody all morning. The early life 
of the principal was far from a pleasant one. His 


144 


Reuben. 


path had been so thorny that nothing appealed to 
his sympathies as strongly as a boy striving for an 
education under difficulties. He was a strict disci- 
plinarian, and an inveterate hater of all vices, small 
and great, and labored zealously, in every possible 
way, to educate his pupils in correct habits, seeking 
to train them in cleanliness of thought, word, and 
act. He sought every opportunity to become ac- 
quainted with the private life of his pupils, and en- 
deavored to make them feel that he was interested 
in their home life. 

“Are you pleased, so far, with the school ? ” he 
asked of Reuben, taking a seat by him during the 
intermission, while the other boys were out on the 
play-ground. 

“ Very much,” said Reuben, sincerely, for he truly 
was, though just at that time very sore over the 
occurrences of the morning. 

“ I think you will like all the boys when you get 
acquainted,” said the professor. I met your father 
Saturday, in Colonel Dale’s office.” 

“ My father ! ” said Reuben, in surprise, and a 
tone of doubt. 

“ Yes, your father,” said the principal, laughing; 
“and a fine old gentleman he is.” 

“ Was father in town ? What for, I wonder ? ” 

“ Why, I supposed you would have seen him too. 
Didn’t he hunt you up ? ” 


Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver. 145 

“ I went to the woods, nutting,” said Reuben, 
sorrowfully, “ or I would have seen him, may 
be.” 

“ I intended to tell him about you, but he was 
so engaged with Colonel Dale about money mat- 
ters,” continued Professor Johnson, “that I did not 
interrupt them except to shake hands.” 

“What could he have been here for? Who is 
Colonel Dale?” said Reuben. 

“ He is one of our leading lawyers — a Christian 
gentleman, too.” 

“ Had father got into a trouble, do you know?” 
asked Reuben, anxiously. 

“ Yes; something about Stauffer. Don’t you re- 
member I told you Stauffer was a bad fellow? But 
from what I overheard I judged your father was 
getting out all right. I heard him say, ' I am glad 
it’s no worse,’ and he looked quite cheerful. I don’t 
think you need worry about it.^’ 

“Can you tell me any thing else father said?” 
asked Reuben, eagerly. “ May be if I heard what 
he said I could guess, for I know all about the ch — 
the business with Stauffer.” 

“ Let me see,” said the principal, trying to recall 
some forgotten remarks of the conversation. “ It 
was about money. Your father said that your 
mother did not want to keep it. Does that help 

you any ? ” 

10 


146 


Reuben. 


“ Not much,” said Reuben, not caring to tell the 
principal all he thought. 

“ Did you have a nice time nutting? ” asked the 
principal, not knowing how anxious Reuben was to 
hear something more about the conversation in the 
lawyer’s office. 

“They all seemed to enjoy it,” said Reuben, not 
wishing to commit himself, for he had not yet made 
up his mind whether he was glad or sorry he had 
gone, especially as he missed hearing from home, he 
supposed, by being out of town. 

“ I was glad to hear Mr. Martin speak so well of 
your work in arithmetic last Saturday, when I was 
asking about you.” 

Reuben blushed, and felt condemned ; for he had 
just been abusing Mr. Martin, in his mind, for 
permitting the class to laugh at him over David’s 
shoulders. 

“ And I am sure you take hold very well in gram- 
mar,” continued the principal. “ Of course, 1 do not 
expect you to do as well as the boys who have grown 
up, you might say, in the school-house.” 

Professor Johnson did not seem inclined to dis- 
cuss any one subject, but rather to divert Reuben’s 
mind from what he judged was a fit of homesick- 
ness. He did not wait for Reuben to reply, but 
asked, as though the thought had just occurred to 
him : 


Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver. 147 

“ Do you like your home at Mrs. Bard’s ? She 
was one of my favorite pupils.” 

“ She is like a sister to me,” said Reuben, 
“ and—” 

“ It is time for the assembly bell,” said the prin- 
cipal, rising to go to his place on the platform, at 
the same time pressing his hand on Reuben’s shoul- 
der in such a way as to thrill his sensitive soul with 
pleasure. Professor Johnson had said nothing much, 
but his words had been so soothing to Reuben’s 
ruffled feelings that to him they were indeed golden. 
He had thought he was but one, and a very insig- 
nificant one, in the many gathered there for instruc- 
tion. To be talked to like a friend and companion 
by the principal, and even complimented by him, 
was an unexpected pleasure. To know that he had 
met his father, and thought of him then, increased 
the pleasure, and caused Reuben to follow the prin- 
cipal, as he left him, with admiring eyes. 

When the school had re-assembled Professor 
Johnson carefully lifted the sheet of paper on 
which the quid of tobacco lay, and, holding it aloft, 
said : 

“ For some time I thought I would hunt up the 
chewer of this quid, but as I have not seen the mate 
of it anywhere in the building I have concluded that 
the nasty fellow who dropped it has quit school. I 
am glad he has. I would rather pay him the amount 


148 


Reuben. 


of his tuition and have him stay away than to take 
double the amount and have him remain here.” 

Reuben felt the hot blood rush to his face under 
these words, but they burned more fiercely as the 
principal continued : 

“ I have been looking over the school to-day to 
find a face that looked dirty enough to belong to 
this bit of black and repulsive tobacco.” 

He paused a few seconds and perfect silence pre- 
vailed. He then added in a lower tone, with a sor- 
rowful cast, speaking very deliberately : 

“ And I found only one ; just — one ! ” 

Reuben felt the blood leave his face, and he knew 
he was white as a sheet, while his hand trembled as 
he noiselessly turned the pages of the book before 
him, gazing intently at the book and feeling that 
the eyes of the whole school were upon him, while 
he dared not look up or around. He could see that 
Jim was looking straight ahead at Professor John- 
son, and noted that he cleared his throat as if to 
speak when the principal paused. He waited to 
hear his own name mentioned by the professor or 
suggested- by Jim. 

“Now, boys,” the principal continued, “1 know 
you think I am hard on tobacco, but I am not as 
hard on tobacco as tobacco is on you. Think what 
it does. It spoils your teeth, it taints your breath, 
it pollutes your lips, it colors your mouth, it spots 


Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver. 149 

your shirt-bosoms, it disgusts your friends, and 
ruins your health.” 

As was his custom, the principal paused to per- 
mit his pupils to think of what lie had just said, and 
to show them that the instruction he was giving 
them then was of more value than the recitations 
that ought to be in progress in that room and all 
the others — for the whole school were waiting for 
the signal-bell, which he had not yet rung. 

“ See what harm this ugly piece of tobacco has 
done! It has stopped this whole school right in 
the midst of a beautiful forenoon, and is robbing all 
of you of time that is yours. O, I wish it had stayed 
in its Southern home to be eaten by the big green, 
ugly worm that has no sense, no mind, no soul 1 ” 

Reuben became more composed as the teacher 
drifted farther away from the name of the person 
he supposed had dropped the tobacco. But he was 
startled when, after a pause, the teacher continued : 

Most of you are old pupils. I do not know of 
but one in the room who has not been here as a stu- 
dent some time or other. You all know my belief 
on this subject. This one is a stranger. He comes 
from a part of the county that has never before been 
represented here. I was anxious he should go home 
with a good report of this school. I am mortified 
to know that he must go back and say that Shack- 
elford Seminary is dirtier than a pig-sty, for he would 


150 


Reuben. 


never find a poisonous bit of tobacco where a hog 
feeds. Is that what you want Reuben Ricketts to 
tell his people?” 

Reuben grew dizzy, and had to clutch the side of 
the desk to hold himself from fainting. 

“ But worse than that ! ” the principal continued. 
“ This school has a pretender in its midst. I put 
this quid of nastiness on my table several days ago, 
and have asked every day for its owner to come 
and take it away. None of you have come. One 
of you is the guilty one, but that one pretends he 
knows nothing about it ! If tobacco does all I have 
said, and in addition sears the conscience of the 
user, boys, in the name of all that is good, do not 
make it your inseparable friend ! ” 

Saying this. Professor Johnson reached behind 
him and rang the signal-bell violently, which sent 
the classes to their rooms to recite. 

It was Reuben’s study hour, and he had plenty of 
time to reflect upon what he had heard. Nothing 
moved him like the assertion that he was a pre- 
tender. He could not force himself to believe that 
Jim had betrayed him, and in no other way could 
Professor Johnson have traced the act to him. He 
could not divest himself of the thought, as he was 
really guilty and the principal believed him inno- 
cent, and even incapable of such baseness, he was 
indeed a pretender. He wondered what Jim would 


Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver. 15 i 

think of him now. He wondered if Jim would tell 
Jessie how cowardly he was in not at once assum- 
ing the blame when the principal asked the owner 
of the quid to take it away. 

Reuben made up his mind that the time had 
passed when he could have shown his manliness by 
accepting the consequences of acknowledging his 
part in the affair ; and he was shut off from that 
way of clearing himself of ignominy. One thing 
remained for him to do : that was, to cease to be a 
pretender by ceasing to be a tobacco user. He 
could do that and at once become the honest and 
clean boy the principal thought he was. His tobac- 
co habit had taken such a hold upon him that to 
quit now was no easy undertaking. It would re- 
quire a struggle. He had commenced using it so 
early in life — hiding from his parents all signs of 
the practice until only a year or two before he came 
to school — that he could not remember when he 
did not use it. He had never done without it but 
a few hours at a time for several years. When 
school closed at noon Reuben went home with a 
mind half made up to try to quit the use of tobacco. 
He had no one to encourage him in the commend- 
able act ; no one to sympathize with him or to offer 
a suggestion as to how he could succeed in a strug- 
gle with a habit long established. 

He was surprised to find Mrs. Bard verging on an 


152 


Reuben. 


exhibition of temper. He looked the surprise he 
felt. 

“ I am almost mad,” she said. “ I had a call a 
few minutes ago from father and an old friend of 
his, who knew me when I was a very little girl. I 
was glad to see him on father’s account as well as 
my own. But he sat up in the back parlor and spat 
tobacco all over the stove and on the oil-cloth. 
Father saw I was provoked, and took his friend 
away as soon as possible. I wouldn’t let my own 
brother stay around me if he used tobacco.” 

Reuben said nothing, for the attack was wholly 
unexpected. When he returned to school his mind 
was fully made up to quit tobacco. When, where, 
or how he had not determined. He could not 
endure the thought of longer deceiving Mrs. Bard 
and her husband as he had been doing. The more 
he thought of the matter the more impressed was 
he with the unmanliness of his pretending to be 
noble and honest when he was slyly using tobacco. 

In the pasture where Mr. Bard’s cow stayed 
through the day was a very deep but not large 
pond. It had been made by digging out clay for a 
brick-yard. That afternoon when he went for the 
cow he stood by the pond for several minutes, un- 
decided, and then turned away and hunted the 
cow. As he returned to the gate he let her out to 
go home alone, and ran back to the pond as though 


Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver. 153 

in haste to get there before he could change his 
purpose. Thrusting his hand into his coat pocket 
he drew out a package securely tied and flung it 
with force into the water. Immediately he took a 
smaller package from his pants pocket and sent it 
whirling through the air after the larger, and saw it 
disappear in the yellow water. “ That is the last 
of my tobacco,” he said aloud, for no one was near 
to hear, and he wanted to strengthen his courage 
by the sound of his own voice. He had turned 
half around to leave, his lips compressed and fists 
clenched as if he was in battle with an enemy and 
hard pushed to stand his ground. He hesitated a 
moment, turned again to the yellow waters, which 
were now trembling in the widening circles of waves 
made by the plunge of his plug of tobacco and 
pocket piece. Once — twice — thrice — his arm cut 
the air with a vigorous swing, and as many times a 
glint of reflected light marked the place where the 
waters parted to receive the two silver dollars and 
the half which he had sent to keep company with 
the tobacco. 

“ ril leave no bridge behind me to retreat over,” 
he said again, speaking aloud, as he turned and 
walked rapidly homeward, his heart throbbing as it 
had never done before ; his breath coming and go- 
ing in gasps as though the conflict had wearied him. 
Utterly penniless now, with his tuition due and 


154 


Reuben. 


unpaid, and no visible means of meeting the de- 
mands against him, he fell asleep that night with a 
feeling that if he should go home now it would be 
with a sense of having gained a victory over a pow- 
erful habit. 

That night he dreamed that he was a prince in- 
deed, leading a brave but little army, clad in silver 
armor, carrying silver shields and armed with bright 
steel spears, against a much larger host, whose armor 
was of strange shape and material, and whose mode 
of warfare was new to him. At their head rode 
their chief — a living skeleton — his toothless jaws 
grinding together with a noise like a hundred rest- 
ive steeds champing their bits. His followers were 
like him, only not so hideous. Their shields were 
black and long, but wide enough to hide their slim 
bodies. As Reuben set his men in battle array and 
waited the attack of the foe he noticed that they 
carried no spears and no swords. Onward they 
came, their bones rattling as they marched like the 
loose joints of jumping-jacks. Their appearance 
was so hideous that Reuben’s men shut their eyes 
as they steadied themselves to receive the shock of 
onslaught. 

“Ho! legions! Guard shields!” shouted Reu- 
ben ; and every shield leaped above and before his 
soldiers’ heads. At that instant a black and slimy 
stream of water issued from the mouths of the at- 


Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver. 155 

tacking host and poured over Reuben and his 
legions. But for his order, and the alacrity of the 
soldiers in obeying, their eyes would have been 
blinded, and the black host would have carried away 
their rich armor. 

“ Forward, thrust ! ” shouted Reuben. 

Every spear leaped forward, and so sure was the 
aim taken from under the shields that the next in- 
stant a thousand spears had pierced a thousand 
shields and held them fast, while a thousand fright- 
ened skeletons fled down the hill, followed by the 
whole host, who plunged headlong into a muddy 
stream near by. When Reuben’s men recovered 
from their surprise they found that each spear-head 
had pierced a huge plug of tobacco. As he was re- 
forming his legions to march home and receive the 
plaudits of his king, he awoke and sprung out of 
bed trembling with excitement and, strange to say, 
before he had put on his pants he thrust his hand 
into the pocket to get a chew of tobacco ! The next 
instant he flung them from him and dropped on his 
knees by his bed and uttered the first prayer he 
had ever made : “ Thou, Prince of Peace, help me 
to conquer.” That is all he said, for that is all he 
wanted. 


56 


Reuben. 


CHAPTER XII. 

A DREAM THAT WAS NOT ALL A DREAM. 

Reuben went to school that morning with a feel- 
ing of loneliness that had never come to him before, 
and a sense of helplessness that was distressing. 
He missed his tobacco as he would have missed a 
brother who had never been absent from him an 
hour. He missed his three silver pieces. He had 
always carried his tobacco in his left-hand pocket, 
his money and his knife in the right-hand pocket. 
When his hand involuntarily sought the tobacco 
and it was not found, there came a painful sense of 
having lost something or forgotten an errand. 
When the other hand went into the right-hand 
pocket to assist in discovering the tobacco or misS- 
ing object, and the knife alone was touched, there 
came a feeling of having suffered a great loss that 
only those who have experienced it can under- 
stand. 

Reuben had scarcely taken his seat when David 
Pingwell slipped in beside him, book and slate in 
hand as usual. When Reuben looked up and saw 
who he was he opened his mouth to tell him to 


A Dream that was Not All a Dream. 157 

leave ; but before he could speak David said, in a 
low tone and with a confidence that plainly indi- 
cated his forgetfulness of having ever done any 
thing to incur Reuben’s displeasure, Give me a 
chew ! ” 

“ Give you what ? ” asked Reuben ; for though he 
had hundreds of times heard this same request and 
as many times promptly and gladly complied with 
the demand, he was now nettled at the presence of 
David and stung by his expressed wish. 

“ A chew of terback’, of course,” said Dave, with 
a knowing smile. 

“ I haven’t any ; I don’t use it,” said Reuben, as 
if indignant at the implication that he did. 

O pshaw!” said Dave, not at all abashed by 
Reuben’s coldness ; “ the perfess’ wont see us. Give 
it me 1 ” 

“ I tell you I don’t use it,” said Reuben, impa- 
tiently, glancing nervously around to see if any one 
was near enough to hear the conversation. 

‘^What’s that on your shirt front?” said Dave, 
persistently, pointing to a little yellow spot on Reu- 
ben’s shirt that he had not noticed. 

“Well, what is it?” said Reuben. 

“Tobacco, of course. You can’t fool me,” said 
Dave, laughing. 

Reuben blushed, and did not know what to 


say. 


158 


Reuben. 


‘‘ Give me a chew, quick, before the perfess’ comes 
this way.” 

I haven’t any,” said Reuben. 

Well, here; take some,” said Dave, tossing a 
piece on Reuben’s book so carelessly that it rolled 
off on the floor. 

Reuben gathered it up quickly and handed it to 
Dave without a word. But Dave would not be 
repulsed so easily. 

“ Take some ; take a big chew. I aint stingy 
with my terback — like some folks.” 

“ Put it up,” said Reuben, nervously, as he saw 
Professor Johnson coming toward them. 

“ It’s none of his business,” said Dave, reluct- 
antly returning the piece to his pocket. 

“Haven’t you got any, for sure?” asked Dave 
again. 

“No; not a bit,” said Reuben. 

“ Well, I will give you this whole piece if you 
will show me how to get this example.” 

“ I don’t want it,” said Reuben. At the same 
time he was longing for a taste of the tempting 
plug. 

“Aint this the kind you use?” asked Dave 
again, exhibiting the plug to Reuben’s hungry 
gaze. 

“ I don’t use any kind,” said Reuben. 

“ O, that is what I say when the perfess’ gets after 


A Dream that was Not All a Dream. 159 

me,” said Dave. “ But you do, for I smell it on 
you.” 

What did you come to me for tobacco for when 
you had some?” said Reuben. 

“ I wanted to see what kind you used, so as to 
get you some for helping me,” said Dave, with a 
smile that was meant to convince him of his sin- 
cerity. 

Then Reuben saw how insufficient were his wea- 
pons against this sort of attack. If he helped Dave 
in his lessons he would almost compel him to take 
tobacco in return for his kindness. If he refused to 
help him he feared he would become angry at him 
and expose his previous pretense of abstinence. 
Dave left him just as Professor Johnson came up. 

“ I have time, now, Reuben, to attend to that 
tuition bill, if you — ” 

“ Yes, sir,” said Reuben, interrupting the princi- 
pal, “ but I lost my money.” 

Lost your money ! When ? Where ? ” 

Last night in the pasture, when I went after 
the cow.” 

“ Did you lose much ? ” 

“ All I had,” said Reuben, evasively. 

Well, well,” said Professor Johnson, “ that is too 
bad. Did you look for it ? ” 

No, sir ; I feel certain it is gone.” 

Do you know you lost it in the pasture ? ” 


i6o 


Reuben. 


“ Yes, sir ; I had it when I went there, and when 
I came out it was gone.” 

I am very sorry, Reuben. I will walk out with 
you after school. Perhaps both of us could find it.” 

“ Thank you,” said Reuben ; “ but it is so late 
when I get my other work done we cannot see 
where it is.” 

“I am really sorry, indeed,” said Professor John- 
son. “ You need not mind the tuition until you 
hear from home. Of course, your father is per- 
fectly able to pay your bills.” 

“ O yes,’^ said Reuben ; but he did not know 
whether to tell the principal that his father had said 
he wouldn’t do any thing of the kind. 

“ Well, I will go with you to the pasture, anyway. 
I should like the walk,” said the principal. “ Be of 
good cheer. We may find it.” 

The hours dragged slowly by for Reuben. 

^‘You must be sick,” said Jim, sympathetically. 

Good many of the country boys get sick when 
they first start to school. They are not used to the 
close room after being out of doors so much.” 

“ I am not sick,” said Reuben, “ but I feel bad. 
Seems to me all the time as though something 
dreadful was going to happen.” 

“ You are homesick,” laughed Jim. Stick it 
out to-day, and I will come over to-night and cheer 
you up a little. You ought to board at our house. 


A Dream that was Not All a Dream. i6i 

Nobody can get the blues where Jessie is. She 
wont let them.” 

“ It may be homesickness. I don’t know, for I 
was never away from home before, and wouldn’t 
know how it acts.” 

At the morning intermission Jim went forward to 
pay his tuition. He and the principal were en- 
gaged in earnest conversation, and then were called 
up Andrew Matthews, Dan Blakemore, and Henry 
Hunter, the other boys of the load of young peo- 
ple that went in Reuben’s wagon to the nutting 
party. There was no design in having just those 
four boys in consultation, but as they were chums 
it happened that they were all in the room while 
the others, including Reuben, were on the play- 
ground. The principal told them of Reuben’s loss. 

“ We may find it to-night when I go out with 
him,” he said ; “ but if we do not, then what ? ” 

“ I will tell you,” said Andrew. “ Suppose we 
had hired that team, boys, at the livery-stable ; why, 
it would have cost us four dollars.” 

“Good!” said Jim, catching the idea instantly. 
“ We will pay him ! ” 

“ The very thing ! ” said Dan and Henry together. 

“ But will he take it ?” asked the principal. “ He 
works like a hero, but I have noticed that he is as 
proud and sensitive as a prince about many 

things.” 

11 


Reuben. 


162 

“ Did you ever see any thing to beat his shoot- 
ing ? ” said Dan, enthusiastically, wandering from 
the subject in hand. “ Zip ! and the old squirrel 
tumbled. Zip ! and another came down. Zip ! zip ! 
zip ! One every time. That was worth a dollar! ” 

“Well, a dollar it is,” said Jim. “You fellows 
just count yourselves in a quarter a piece on that.” 

“‘Just get your squirrel,’ ” said Dan, his mind 
still dwelling on the shooting, “ and Jim says, ‘ Shall 
I climb the tree or cut it down ? ’ and the old squir- 
rel was dropping into his hat that very minute.” 

“ But how will we get him to take the money?” 
said Jim, after laughing with the* others over the 
remarks of Dan. 

“I will tell you,” said Andrew, again. “Just 
give it to the professor here, and let it go on the 
tuition. He can’t help himself then, and it will not 
hurt his feelings either.” 

“ Let me see,” said Jim ; “ five dollars for the 
team and a dollar, that makes six dollars. I will 
bring mine in the morning.” 

“ So will I,” said each of the others. 

“ Now let me have a hand in this,” said the prin- 
cipal. “ I will give a dollar and a half too, making 
seven and a half in all.” He took out a receipt bill 
and credited the seven and a half dollars, saying : 
“ I will trust you boys for that.” 

‘‘ Don’t tell him we paid it,” said Dan. “Just 


A Dream that was Not All a Dream. 163 

say * some friends/ for he might think we look down 
on him.’* 

“ That’s a good suggestion,” said Andrew. 

“ It is no charity,” said Jim. “ We owe him that 
much for the team. He may have to pay for it 
himself when Mr. Thompson comes home.” 

“ Well, I will not say any thing to him about it 
until he comes to settle his bill. That may be some 
time if we do not find his money in the pasture,” 
said Professor Johnson. 

Reuben endured mental torture all day. His 
suffering on account of the loss of his tobacco was 
equaled by his dread of the walk with his teacher 
in hunting for the lost money. His conscience 
smote him for again deceiving the principal. He 
did not intend to practice any deception. When he 
said his money was lost he thought that would end 
all inquiry about it. If they should search for it 
where Reuben knew it was not he felt it would be 
as much a deception on his part as though he had ' 
it in his pocket, or had spent it for something and 
then said it was lost. 

The hours of the afternoon sped by on wings of 
lightning. Reuben would have detained them, and 
postponed the coming of the hour to go for the 
cow. 

“ I will run down to the post-office, go home and 
get a luncheon, and come back for you by the time 


Reuben. 


164 

you are ready,” said the professor, as school closed, 
“ and we will have a nice time, if we do not find 
the money.” 

“ Has any thing happened ? ” asked Mrs. Bard, 
as she noticed Reuben’s sad face when he came in 
from school. 

“ No, ma’am,” he said ; “ nothing that I can 
speak of now,” he added, trying to avoid any fur- 
ther questioning. 

“ Perhaps if you took a cup of tea you would 
feel better. I am afraid you will get sick. Our 
supper is so late, and you ate no dinner at all,” she 
said, as he came in again. 

“ O no ; I need no tea,” said Reuben, laughing. 

But when he came in to prepare for the walk 
with Professor Johnson she had set a dainty lunch 
and had a cup of tea ready. He ate and drank to 
please her, and not because he wanted it. 

Professor Johnson was never so cheerful as that 
evening trudging along with Reuben to the pasture. 
He never had more funny things to say, and did not 
remember when he had exerted himself so much to 
engage the attention of any one. To all he said 
Reuben replied, “Yes, sir;” “No, sir,” and ven- 
tured nothing further. Finally his teacher said : 

‘‘Do not grieve so, Reuben. Something will turn 
up to make this all right.” 

Reuben’s only reply was a jerk at his big hat- 


A Dream that was Not All a Dream. 165 

brim that pulled it closer over his eyes, but that did 
not hide the tell-tale tears that dropped on his coat. 

‘‘ Now, take me right where you think you lost 
it,” said his teacher, as they went through the big 
gate. 

Reuben led the way to the bank of the pond. 
He sat down on a log near by, and Professor John- 
son took a seat beside him, at a loss to explain Reu- 
ben’s manner. 

“ It wasn’t much money that you lost, was it ?” 
said his teacher, soothingly. 

“ No, sir,” sobbed Reuben. “ I do not care for 
the money. It was something else.” 

“ Something better than money ? ” 

“ Yes, sir ; I think so,” he said, bitterly. 

“ Tell me about it.” 

“You will never trust me again if I do.” 

“What can you mean?” said the principal, very 
much interested in the matter. 

“ I am not what I pretend to be,” exclaimed 
Reuben, not knowing how to begin, and determined 
to make a full statement of all his troubles. 

“Why, Reuben, my dear boy,” said his teacher, 
tenderly, “ you distress me by your words and your 
manner.” 

“ I dropped that tobacco quid.” 

“You?” said Professor Johnson in genuine sur- 
prise. 


Reuben. 


1 66 

“That’s what hurts me,” Reuben continued be- 
tween sobs. “You thought I was nice when I was 
dirty.” 

“ O, well,” said his teacher. “ Do not let that 
trouble you so.” 

“You said there was a pretender in the school; 
and I am the one.” 

“You use tobacco? I never could have be- 
lieved it.” 

“No, sir; I do not. I did; but I don’t now,” 
said Reuben, in a calmer tone, the storm of grief 
and shame having swept over his soul. 

“You did, but don’t?” repeated the teacher in 
surprise. “When did you quit?” 

“ Last night about this time,” said Reuben, with 
firm tones ; but the words were hardly out of his 
mouth before he broke down again and wept bitterly. 

“Are you sorry?” asked the principal, gently. 

“ Sorry ? ” said Reuben, with flashing eye. “ No, 
sir. But I am sorry I was such a coward as not 
to tell you I threw that quid on the floor.” 

“Ah, my boy, many a brave man has quailed 
before a less trial than that. I do not censure you 
for it.” 

“ Can you trust me again ? ” Reuben asked, 
eagerly. 

“ More now than ever,” said his teacher, warmly. 
“You did not intend to deceive. That is all right. 


A Dream that was Not All a Dream. 167 

Do not worry about that. Come, let us look for 
the money.” 

“ No use to look. It is gone.” 

Then Reuben, with many a break-down, told the 
whole story of his struggle of the night before. As 
he talked tears filled the eyes of his teacher time 
and time again. Finally Reuben said, “ Then 
when I was turning away I thought of the money 
in my pocket and was afraid I might go and buy 
some more tobacco ; so I flung it all into the pond 
to cut off the last chance, even if it did send me 
away from school.” 

“Reuben,” said Professor Johnson, “you are a 
brave boy. I truly believe that your heart is the 
very throne of honor ! ” 

The sun was down when they turned to leave the 
woods, though a soft twilight lingered and made 
shapely in dim outline even the rudest objects. 

“ Reuben,” said his teacher, grasping his arm, 
“ God heard your pledge last night. He alone 
can give you strength to keep it. Will you 
kneel with me while I pray that he will strengthen 
you ? ” 

Beside a rude altar of stones that some one had 
piled for other purposes the two knelt. 

“ O, Conqueror of all evil,” prayed the teacher, 
“ clothe Reuben with might that he may prevail, 
and be indeed a prince of God.” 


Reuben. 


1 68 

“I knew the tea would help you,” said Mrs. Bard 
when Reuben came in, while they were at supper, 
looking quite cheerful : “ but I was sure you had 
got lost, and would have been uneasy if Professor 
Johnson had not gone with you. He is such a 
walker. Did he tire you out?” 

“ O, no ; I feel better than when I started,” said 
Reuben. “ The walk has done me good.” 

Reuben had told Professor Johnson his dream as 
they walked home, and he said, 

“ That was not all a dream, I hope. I think you 
have the tobacco on the run ; and all you have to 
do is to keep it up until it jumps into the river of 
things that were.” 

When Reuben went to his room that night for 
study he could not drive out of his mind the occur- 
rences of the past two days. He re-resolved that 
there should be no trying to quit, but that, having 
quit tobacco once, he should never spoil his record 
by returning to the habit. 

But he did return, and that very night ! In his 
dreams he and Dave each had a big plug of 
tobacco, and were sitting on the teacher’s table 
chewing. In the midst of their fun the scholars 
came in and took their places, while Reuben and 
Dave were paralyzed with shame and sat with open 
mouths. 

When Reuben awoke, and found it was only a 


A Dream that was Not All a Dream. 169 

dream, he lay for some minutes in mute thankful- 
ness that he was still true to his vow, and had felt 
in his dreams how ashamed he would be to violate 
an oath voluntarily and deliberately made. 

How he should meet his tuition bill was an ever- 
present and annoying question. 


170 


Reuben. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

GOOD NEWS FROM OVER THE SEA. 

A LETTER was a strange thing at Jacob Rick- 
etts’s home. When one came it excited the keenest 
interest, for none ever ' came on a commonplace 
errand. Their post-office was kept at a neighbor’s 
house, and a very primitive affair it was. A wooden 
case hung against the wall received the contents of 
the mail-bag, after it had been assorted and all the 
postmarks read by the postmaster and his wife. 
Heavy doors, secured by a padlock and key, pro- 
tected the letters from the gaze and touch of any 
caller. A rifle sat in the corner of the room, and 
suggested that it would have something to say if 
any one dared lay unlawful hands on the contents 
of the case. 

“ If it wasn’t for my rheum’tiz I’d go over an’ tell 
Neighbor Ricketts there’s a letter for ’im,” said the 
postmaster to his deputy, who was washing the 
breakfast dishes, her head hidden in the steam of 
the water she had poured into the pan, while his 
was enshrouded in a cloud of tobacco smoke. 

I ’low he aint looking for nuthin’ ; leastwise 


Good News from Over the Sea. 171 

not from no sich town as New York,” he con- 
tinued. 

“La, me! Josiah, when the guv’ment ’pointed 
you and me to this here office ’twa’n’t to run ’round 
and hunt up people to get their mail.” 

“You’re a little mixed, Sally, in your hist’ry of 
this office. The guv’ment ’pointed me and I 
"pointed you.” 

“ Well, didn’t you write on to ’em, and didn’t 
they say you could hev’ me fer yer deputy ? Wa’n’t 
that as good as ’pointing me ? ” 

“ That is it ; but I ’lowed you might have for- 
gotten I was ’pointed fust, that’s all.” 

“You just stop wurrin’ ’bout that ’ere letter. 
Reub’ll be ’round and get it. I told ev’ry body I 
seed since it came ; so I ’low they’ll hear on’t soon 
’nough.” 

“ I’d kinder like to know what’s in it myself,” 
said the postmaster. “ If Neighbor Ricketts come 
he’d tell me.” 

“Him? Him tell you? He can’t tell *a’ from 
Gzzard.’ ” 

“ Well, I know that as good as you do. And 
that’s it. You’d read it for 'im. He always forgets 
his glasses, he says ; and you’d get to know, and 
likewise me. If Reub comes he’ll take it home 
without breakin’ it op’n.” 

“ Well, I’m needin’ a little mite of yeast to help 


72 


Reuben. 


out the baking, an’ I guess I’ll run over and get 
some of Mis’ Ricketts.” 

“You mought say it’s been here a’most a week, 
or something like that, to hurry ’im up.” 

“ Is it from Reub ? ” asked Mrs. Ricketts, eagerly, 
as her husband came in holding the letter in his 
hand. 

The deputy postmaster had not told what post- 
mark was on the letter, for she loved to appear at 
times wholly indifferent to where letters came 
from, remembering only the names of the persons 
addressed. 

“ Better’n that,” said her husband. 

“ Why, Jacob ! how can you say so, when he has 
been gone two weeks and not a word yet ! ” an- 
swered Mrs. Ricketts, reproachfully. 

“ Well, you’ll say so when this ’ere letter’s 
read.” 

“ How did you find out what’s in it?” 

“ The postmaster read it ; that is, his wife did. 
They’re tickled to death ’bout it.” 

Meantime Mrs. Ricketts was pulling out and 
opening the letter. 

“ See that ! It’s not writ like some letters, but 
printed like a book,” said Mr. Ricketts, looking 
over his wife’s shoulder as she read the circular. 

When she had finished the reading, she handed 
the circular to her husband, saying, “ There might 


Good News from Over the Sea. 173 

be something in it ! ” her face coloring slightly as 
she recalled the dreams of her girlhood days. 

“ I don’t get hold of it fairly,” he said, “ for she 
aint no such reader as you or Reub.” 

“ Well, it says a very large fortune is waiting in 
England for heirs in America to claim.” 

“Millions, aint it?” interrupted Mr. Ricketts. 

“Yes; more millions than one can understand, 
and even possessions of old castles and great 
farms.” 

“Yes, yes,” said her husband, eagerly; “but 
what is that to me or you ?” 

“Well, he says — the man that wrote that letter 
— that he has found that you married me — a Grif- 
fith, and — ” 

“Well, so I did, and I’m not sorry yet,” he in- 
terrupted, rather enthusiastically. 

His wife continued, smilingly : 

“And I am entitled to a share of the fortune, 
because my father belongs to the royal family that 
left the fortune.” 

“ Could a fellow get over there without goin’ on 
the water, do you know, Nancy?” 

“ That’s the only way.” 

“Well?” he said, inquiringly, wanting to know 
more about the matter. 

“This man says he has pretty good evidence 
that we are entitled to a part of the fortune, but 


Reuben. 


174 

that it will cost something to hire the lawyers and 
get the case settled in the courts.” 

“Just let him come to me about lawyers ; can’t 
I tell him a thing or two ! ” 

“ For a hundred dollars he says he will send a 
chart that shows just how we are related to the 
crowned heads of England — clear back to William 
the Conqueror.” 

“ La, me ; I don’t care for the chart. It’s the 
fortune — them millions and millions.” 

Mrs. Ricketts blushed and said, “ I’d like to have 
the chart.” 

“ Get your millions first, Nancy, and then you 
can buy your charts ; a dozen of them if you want.” 

She saw that he did not understand her feelings, 
and did not know that titles to royalty could not 
be purchased as titles to lands are bought in this 
country. He had quickly grasped the idea that 
they were supposed to be heirs to large estates and 
much money, and he was anxious to enter into pos- 
session of these. She was moved by the unexpected 
revival of the tradition that her ancestors were 
kings and princes. She had no faith in getting 
money from across the sea ; but she felt glad that 
their connection with royalty, with leaders and 
rulers, could at last be fully proven ; so that what 
had been a pleasant fancy would become a charm- 
ing reality. 


Good News from Over the Sea. 175 

“The chart,” she said, “ is like a will. You can- 
not get the millions until, by the chart, you prove 
your right to them.” 

“Just so, Nancy; just so,” he said, in an unusu- 
ally good and yielding humor though he had for 
two weeks suffered himself to be guided by his 
wife’s judgment more than ever before. 

“ I might take that filly to town and sell her for 
the hundred.” 

“ Do you really want to try for this money?” she 
asked. 

“La, yes. The postmaster, he said he’d heard 
of a heap of improbabler things than that.” 

“Remember the churns, Jacob,” she said, warn- 
ingly. 

“ Wall, haint I remembering ’em? Don’t I know 
if it wasn’t for them pesky things I’d not have to 
sell the filly to get the hundred now.” 

“Couldn’t you get some money from Issachar 
Dempson ? ” 

“ No. When I sold him that land I says, says I, 
* Now, Is’ker, take no uneasiness ’bout that five 
thousand.’ ’Cause why? Well, you see the farm 
what I sold him is good for it ; and if 'it comes 
back to me, why, his improvements stick, and that’s 
good as interest.” 

“ Isn’t the filly worth more than a hundred ? ” 

“La, yes. Worth a hundred and fifty, easy; but 


176 


Reuben. 


to sell her quick I’ll let her go for a hundred. She’d 
eat her head off anyhow this winter.” 

Her husband went out to drive up the young 
horse he thought of selling, to take an appraising 
look at her ; then came back presently and said, 

“ Nancy, if we do get that money, I have been 
thinking that Reub might have a new hat. I saw 
one monstrous nice for a dollar. He’s got two 
good suits, aint he?” 

“Yes; his suits are good,” said his mother, “but 
I was never any hand for making clothes fit a 
boy. I’d like to see him dressed once to match his 
calling.” 

“ Well, if he had stayed on the farm this winter 
he would have saved enough to get him a summer 
suit.” 

“Then he would have had just a summer suit,” 
said Mrs. Ricketts. “ By going to the seminary he 
will get something that will last longer than any 
summer suit, and will be more sightly.” 

“An education, you mean, I ’low,” said her hus- 
band. “ Well, if there’s any there for him he’ll get it. 
I never saw him give in yet till he got through,” he 
added, after a minute’s reflection. 

That evening Mr. Ricketts surprised his wife by 
asking a question on a subject that up to that time 
she had thought had no interest for him at all. 

“ Nancy, who was that man you say was con- 


Good News from Over the Sea. 177 

q’ror?” Before she could reply he gave her the 
key to the mystery of his thoughts. “ Is he the 
one that we are goin’ to get the money from ? ” 

Mrs. Ricketts was too glad to get a chance to talk 
about something else than the dull surroundings 
of her life — the horses, the cows, the apples, and 
potatoes — to blunt his desire to have her tell him 
about English kings by appearing surprised or im- 
pugning his motive in making the inquiry. What 
she had read in her girlhood days was fresh in mind 
yet, for she had gone over the story in her mind 
time and time again. 

“ Well, I will tell you what I know, if you care to 
listen to a long story.” 

“ I ’low I can listen as long you can talk about 
them things,” he said, laughing. 

“ His father’s people were not very nice, for they 
were robbers.” 

“ Kind of like Stauffer? ” 

O, no ; fierce, bold robbers of the sea, that 
burned ships and carried off treasures from towns.” 

‘‘ O, soldiers, you mean. Them ain’t robbers.” 

“ Well, soldiers, then. William was a soldier. 
When a boy he fought in a great battle, and sur- 
prised all his people by the way he drove his lance 
against the fiercest enemies and overcame them.” 
You say he was your grandfather, Nancy ? ” 

“Yes; ’way, ’way back ; great-great- great-grand- 
12 


178 


Reuben. 


father, and more than that. I cannot tell you just 
when. I have forgotten.” 

But you are sure about his being one ? ” 

“ O, yes; you will see that by the chart ! ” 

“ Well, go on.” 

“ It is said,” continued Mrs. Ricketts, recalling 
what she had read, and repeating sometimes the 
very words, when other men despaired he was 
most courageous. Though he was a prince, and 
leading an army, he sometimes helped to clear a 
road through the snow.” 

What kind of lookin’ man was he ? ” 

‘‘Very large, very grim and fierce, stout as a lion, 
and proud and haughty.” 

“ Nothing like Stauffer ; was he ? ” 

“ O, no ; neither in face, nor form, nor heart. He 
hated robbers, and hunted them down so constantly 
that it was said a man could go over his realm in 
safety though he carried with him a bag of gold.” 

“ Did he kill them, or shut them up?’ 

“ Shut them up, I guess ; for he would not per- 
mit any one to be killed for any crime, and he 
made his people quit having slaves.” 

“Humph! Nice old man.” 

“ Very nice,” said Mrs. Ricketts, “ for he was said 
to be an affectionate father.” 

She paused here but her husband asked no fur- 
ther questions. 


Good News from Over the Sea. 179 

“ He was very kind to those who loved God, but 
terribly stern with rebels and robbers.” 

“ Whom did he call rebels or robbers ? ” 

“ Any one who differed from him.” 

“ Where did he get his fortune? ” 

“Just took it, I suppose. I know it is said he 
drove men, women, and children from their homes, 
so he could have a big park for his wild deer and 
wild boars.” 

“ Liked deers and pigs more’n he did men and 
women, or even children?” exclaimed Mr. Ricketts. 

“Yes ; but the deer and boars were his, and the 
children were not.” 

Mrs. Ricketts hoped he would understand the 
hint she here feebly made that he did not think 
more of his game than he did of his own children, 
but Mr. Ricketts did not notice the suggestion. 

“What great thing did he do?” he asked, as 
though what he had heard was not much. 

“ Well, he was a king. He made himself a king 
by gaining a great victory when every body thought 
he had failed. He told his troops to run. They 
ran, and the English army ran after them, and left 
the hill where they had withstood William’s attack. 
Then he called his men back, and they fought the 
English and beat them.” 

“ Which had most men ? ” asked Mr. Ricketts. 

“ William had the finest army,” she said. 


i8o 


Reuben. 


“ I ’lowed so. Now, I tell you ! The thing that 
sets my blood to boilin’ is to see a little fellow 
thrash a great big boaster. But it’s no fun to see 
a turkey gobbler scare a spring chicken.” 

“ Well, that’s what King William did once.” 

“ Well, now, let’s have that,” he said, eagerly. 

“ It is not a long story. A bishop of the Church 
had done something. The king ordered his arrest. 
Every body was afraid of the bishop and wouldn’t 
go. So King William himself went and seized him. 
‘Look here,’ said the bishop, ‘you can’t arrest a 
bishop.’ King William said, ‘ I know it ; I am not 
arresting a bishop, I am arresting a man.’ ” 

“ That’s good enough if the bishop wasn’t a little 
man,” said Mr. Ricketts, smiling good-naturedly. 
“ Is that all the old man done, Nancy?” 

“ O, no ; those are just some little things I happen 
to remember,” she said, rather crest-fallen, because 
her husband did not seem to discover any thing of 
importance in the history. Then she remarked, 
“ Books as big as the Bible have been written about 
King William the Conqueror.” 

When Mr. Ricketts went to bed that night he was 
not certain whether it was worth the price of the 
filly to trace his wife’s ancestors back to William 
the Conqueror. But he had more sympathy for her 
in the obscure and comparatively lonely life she 
was leading, since he knew she treasured in her 


Good News from Over the Sea. i8i 

heart a tradition that she belonged to a family that 
once ruled England and France. 

Where did you say your grandfather — the king, 

I mean — used to live, Nancy?” he asked the next 
morning. 

“ He came from Normandy, but was King of En- 
gland. He was a Norman.” 

“ Norman ! ” said Mr. Ricketts, with new interest. 
“ Normandy ! ” he repeated. “ Why, there’s where 
our big horses — them powerful critters — come from. 
Wonder if any of them are his’n. My! I wouldn’t 
mind givin* several hundred dollars if I thought he 
had any of them for us. Do you reckon ? ” 

“ Hardly,” said Mrs. Ricketts, smiling at the odd 
idea. 

“ Well, I ’lowed a king’d have the best in the 
land, and thar’s nothin’ better’n a full-blooded Nor- 
man. Now, ef you could get ’em to send over 
one to Reub he could sell him for enough to buy 
all he’d want ever.” 

Mr. Ricketts seemed to know that Reuben was 
not fully supplied with necessary articles, and he 
was constantly puzzling his brain to find how some 
other person than himself could furnish the needed 
things. 

Meanwhile Reuben was discovering in himself 
elements of strength and power to move others that 
he had never suspected he possessed. 


i 82 


Reuben. 


That he was a genuine prince, and would so 
prove himself, his mother never doubted. That 
he was more than any other boy, except in the ac- 
complishments he had taught him, his father never 
believed. 

“ 'Afore I do any thing much, Nancy, about this 
’ere grandfather’s business, I ’low I’d better see the 
lawyer. He mought know a cheaper way,” Mr. 
Ricketts said. 

“ So he would,” said his wife quickly, for to do 
that made it likely that she would hear from Reu- 
ben. Her strongest impulse was to suggest going 
too, but she did not see how both could be gone all 
day from the farm. The next thought was to send 
him some surprise from the farm-house. What 
would he need most that she could send him ^ she 
asked herself. He had all his clothes with him, 
and all his books. She could send him apples, but 
that seemed too cheap and common a gift. She 
could send butter, honey, preserves, bread, or cake, 
but that might offend whomever he was boarding 
with. There was one thing left which she knew he 
would want and would relish. With a sigh that he 
should want such a thing more than any other 
article she could think of, she put it up in a neat 
package and gave it to her husband as he waited in 
the wagon at the yard-gate for her message to 
Reuben. It was a plug of tobacco. 


Good News from Over the Sea. 183 

“ If I shouldn’t see him,” he called, as he drove 
away, “ I will leave it with the lawyer.” 

But you must not come back without seeing 
him,” she replied. 

He answered by a wave of his hand and a look 
that she interpreted into a declaration that he 
would do as he thought best when he got there. 

She worked all day with a glimmering hope that 
Reuben would return with him to remain over 
Sunday. 


84 


Reuben. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

SURPRISED AND CAPTURED. 

Mr. Thompson returned as suddenly as he left, 
and was in high spirits, for the change of climate had 
greatly benefited his wife, and he returned without 
her that she might still derive help from the soft 
air of the Southern highlands. Next to his home 
he prized his team of fine horses. 

“ Well, Bard,” he said jokingly, after he had ex- 
changed greetings with his chief clerk, and made a 
few general inquiries about business, “I’ll wager 
my team against your head — seeing that you never 
bet — that both the horses are lame from over-driving, 
or so wild from close stabling and high feeding that 
I can’t handle them, or so dirty from neglect that I 
will be ashamed of them. I didn’t remember until 
I got on the cars that you had a horror of horses. 
How did you manage, anyway?” 

Mr. Bard chose to reply to his employer in the 
same spirit of good-humored raillery, and said so- 
berly, “ I haven’t been near the stable since you left, 
but I got a cheap boy to ’tend to the team.” 

The reply was unexpected by Mr. Thompson. He 


Surpris::d and Captured. 185 

had looked for a general assertion of having done 
his best from his clerk, and to be told that the care 
of his team had been turned over to a “ cheap boy ” 
was a surprise and a shock that greatly nettled him. 
Dropping his mild manner, he fiercely said, ‘‘ If that 
team has been ruined by your neglect, sir, I shall 
look to you for proper restitution in money value. 
If you could not see to them, why not hire a com- 
petent man ? 

“ I will gladly make any amends you may think 
proper,” said Mr. Bard, quietly; and then added: 
“ But if every thing had been done as you would 
have had it — a competent man hired, and all that — 
would you have paid the bills ? ” 

Certainly, sir, certainly. Did you ever know me 
to be niggardly or unreasonable ? On the contrary, 
you have often reminded me that I was at times 
unnecessarily generous — even in your own case,” 
said Mr. Thompson, rather hotly. He started out 
of the store in a rage, and then returned to say : “ I 
dread to go to the stable. I know what a fix it will 
be in from stall to loft. Remember, Bard, I hold 
you personally responsible.” 

“ I understood that some time ago,” said Mr. 
Bard, in the same quiet tone. Mr. Thompson hast- 
ened home, and hurrying to the stable flung open 
the door, prepared to see a place that had been 
neglected for two weeks. 


Reuben. 


1 86 

“ Well ! ” he said to himself, as he gazed upon as 
tidy a stable as he ever looked into. Indeed, it was 
a more sightly place than he left. “ He was not 
expecting me to-day, I know,” he said, explaining 
to himself the lack of any especial motive for such 
a condition. He examined the harness, the car- 
riages, and found them in good condition, and 
finally advanced to the stalls. The horses heard 
him coming, and sent out a vigorous whinny to 
greet him. 

“ Ho-ho, my beauties! How are you? Glad to 
see me, eh?” he said, putting his cheek against the 
smooth and glossy faces of his favorites. A glance 
satisfied him that they were clean and in good 
health. But he examined them in every particular, 
and was delighted. He could not wait to send for 
the man he had had as a hostler, but who was given 
a vacation just before Mr. Thompson went South, 
but himself put the horses before the light driving 
wagon to take an airing with them. He had never 
seen them in better trim. 

“ Bard, come here,” he called, as he drove near to 
the office window that opened on a side street. 

Mr. Bard appeared, looking very solemn. Mr. 
Thompson greeted him with smiles. 

“ See here, old fellow, the stakes are yours ! ” 

“How’s that?” said his clerk, restraining his 
mirth with great effort. 


Surprised and Captured. 


187 


“ Cheap boy, indeed ! Bard, I thought you were 
a Christian. I don’t pretend to be any thing, but I 
wouldn’t falsify like that!” he said, in his old 
hearty and joking manner. 

“ I spoke the truth,” said Mr. Bard. “ He is 
as cheap a boy as I ever hired. He works for his 
board. Isn’t that cheap?” 

“Very! You have the best of the joke, I admit 
it. Now tell me all about it. Why, this team is 
worth fifty dollars more than it was two weeks ago. 
The horses are gentler, wiser, and better steppers. I 
never could get them both down to the same lick- 
a-ti-cut, but now they move off together as if they 
had the same head.” 

“ Then you are satisfied ? ” asked Mr. Bard. 

“ Satisfied ! ” echoed Mr. Thompson. “ You just 
send that ‘cheap boy’ to me, and if I don’t give 
him the best suit of clothes in the store you mark 
me down a fraud.” 

“ I think he has pretty good clothes,” said Mr. 
Bard. 

“ Well, give him the money then, and let him do 
what he pleases with it.” 

“ For sure ? ” asked Mr. Bard, a little incredulous. 

“ For sure ! Give him ten dollars, and then I am 
fifteen ahead. Now go! Prince! Hector!” The 
horses sprang lightly forward and were soon out of 
sight. 


i88 


Reuben. 


That morning the principal had said to the school : 
“ I have decided to give some pupil a chance to 
show his grit and at the same time earn some 
money.” 

The announcement set all of Reuben’s nerves 
a-tingling. It seemed too good to be true. A chance 
to earn some money was what he had been seeking 
for nearly three weeks, ever since he had come to 
school ; but especially had he desired to find such 
a chance since he had sacrificed his money. He was 
becoming heartily ashamed of his hat. The leaves 
were falling and a straw-hat was out of place at that 
season. He dared not hope to earn enough to pay 
his tuition and get a hat, too. He listened breath- 
lessly as the principal continued to explain his 
meaning. 

“ There are four big stoves in this building, be- 
sides the little one in the music-room. It takes a 
great quantity of coal to keep them going through 
the winter. At each stove is a coal-bin large enough 
to hold a week’s supply. I want those bins filled 
every night. To fill them first is a hard task, but 
after that is done, what is used out each day can be 
carried up at night after school. I speak of this to- 
day, for to-morrow is Saturday, and that is the time 
to fill the bins first. Now, if any boy wants to do 
this work for me, I will give him his tuition free.” 

Reuben’s heart beat wildly as the plan was un- 


Surprised and Captured. 189 

folded. Such a glorious opportunity had never- oc- 
curred to his mind as one of the possibilities. He 
resolved to apply for the place at once. But how 
could he do the work ? suddenly came into his mind. 
The work he did for Mrs. Bard and the care of Mr. 
Thompson’s horses took every minute of his time 
out of school from daylight to dark. “ If I had only 
let the horses alone ! ” he said, reproachfully to him- 
self. He did not doubt but that so fine a chance to 
earn so much money so easily would be taken by a 
score of boys, and his only hope to get the place 
was to ask for it before any one else could see the 
principal. He wondered if he could not do it by 
lamp-light. He dreaded to speak about it if not 
ready and willing to undertake the task in the way 
and at the time the principal desired it done. He 
thought that he had already presumed upon Pro- 
fessor Johnson’s forbearance and kindness. 

As he went out to the play-ground at the after- 
noon intermission he saw Mr. Thompson drive by 
behind the team. He did not know Mr. Thompson, 
but he did know the team, and quickly concluded 
that his work there had ended. He hastily ascended 
the stairs and found the principal alone. In breath- 
less excitement, fearing he was too late, he made 
known his wish. 

“ Certainly,” said the professor, kindly. “ I did 
not expect you to take the work, but you are wel- 


Reuben. 


190 

come to it. I made the offer to accommodate a boy 
here whose parents are very poor. His mother 
takes in washing to buy him clothes and to keep 
him in school. To see him on the street you would 
think he was the son of wealthy parents, he dresses 
so fine. In school he is a dullard.” 

“ 1 am so thankful for the chance,” said Reuben. 

Why, I thought you said your father was able 
to meet all the bills!” said the principal. 

Then Reuben remembered what he had said on 
that point, and at once feared that his present anxi- 
ety had discredited that statement. He wanted to 
explain the situation, but knew that was not the 
time or place. 

“ He is,” said Reuben ; “ but — ” then he hesi- 
tated. 

“Oh, that’s all right,” said his teacher. “You 
are welcome to the work, and I think more of you 
for wanting to work your way.” 

That afternoon, when school closed, the principal 
called Jim, Andrew, Dan, and Henry to his desk, 
and explained how their scheme had failed through 
Reuben’s desire to pay his own way. 

“ It will never do to offer him the money direct,” 
said Jim ; “ I have found that out. He is the proud- 
est-spirited boy I ever saw about some things.” 

“Yes,” said Andrew; “and the meekest about 
others.” 


Surprised and Captured. 191 

** And the noblest about others,” interposed the 
principal. “ Now, boys, I didn’t intend to tell you, 
if your scheme had worked, but I believe I will now. 
But of course, you four will keep it to yourselves, 
wont you ? ” 

“ Certainly,” said they all. 

“ Do you know that boy has not a cent to his 
name ? ” 

“ And away from home ! ” exclaimed J im. “ Why, 
I am distressed when I haven’t a dollar or two at 
hand, and at home, too; besides, father never allows 
me to ask for any thing twice.” 

How can he stand it?” said Dan. 

“Well, there is a little story about it that I want 
you boys to know, but you must keep it sacredly 
secret. When he came here he was a tobacco 
chewer, and he dropped that quid on the floor not 
long ago, you remember. Well, he had never been 
told about tobacco, and didn’t mean to do any thing 
wrong, and — ” 

“ Did you see me leave the room that morning 
you found it ? ” asked Jim. “ Well, I had to go out 
for fear I might give you the wink or something, 
that would set you on him.” 

“ I am glad you did not tell, for it has all come 
out right.” Then the principal told the story of 
the pond and the money. “ That was as brave an 
act as Cortes burning his ships,” said Professor 


192 


Reuben. 


Johnson; and that is why he has not a penny 
to-day.” 

“ I didn’t know he had quit,” said Jim ; and it 
has worried me a little to think he would be sneak- 
ing about it. But I see now that he has more cour- 
age than I.” 

“ I couldn’t do that, either,” said Dan. 

“ Well, he must have that money; it is his. He 
has earned it. To make him see it is the trouble,” 
said Jim, anxiously. Then he said eagerly: “I 
ha-ve it now. Father has brought home a young 
mare, a handsome filly, but O, so wild ! I will hire 
him to break it for seven dollars and a half! Do 
you see? He can commence to-morrow.” 

“ Good ! ” said Andrew. “ But the coal ! ” 

‘‘ To be sure 1 ” said Jim. 

“ That’s nothing. There are four of us ; he makes 
five. We can all come and help him, and then go 
to see him ride the filly the first time,” said Dan. 

“The best idea yet,” said Henry. “I’ll be on 
hand.” 

The principal esteemed, admired, and approved, 
and promised to be somewhere near himself. 

When Reuben came to the school-house the next 
morning, prepared to devote a half-day or more to 
carrying up the first supply of coal, he was not sur- 
prised to find the principal there, for he had said 
he would give him a start ; but he was surprised to 


Surprised and Captured. 193 

find the four boys waiting his coming. At first he 
was offended, for he felt that they had come to watch 
him work, and by their presence impress him with 
their better and happier lot. Reuben probably 
would have not felt so had not David Pingwell fol- 
lowed him part way home the evening before and 
volunteered his opinion on the scheme. 

“ The perfess’ ’ll not get his coal up this year that 
cheap. Us rich boys wont carry it, you bet, and 
the poor fellows can earn more money doin’ some- 
thing else. As for me. I’ll not have nothing to do 
with any boy that does it.” 

At once Reuben was determined to do the work 
at any sacrifice, for he was tired of the annoying 
persistency with which David clung to him. He 
could not see how such labor could degrade him in 
the eyes of any one whose opinion he prized. The 
more he thought about it, though, the more he was 
inclined to think David was echoing the sentiments 
of others, for he doubted his ability to think out 
alone even such a problem in social life. When he 
saw Jim, Andrew, Dan, and Henry there, he was 
distressed. He had not forgotten Andrew’s remark 
about Dave helping him get his arithmetic lesson, 
and though Andrew had since then treated him with 
the utmost politeness and consideration, nothing 
had occurred to change Reuben’s opinion that an 

offense was intended then. 

13 


194 


Reuben. 


^‘Reuben,” said Jim, without waiting for him to 
come up to where they were standing ; “ we heard 
you were coming to work yourself to death, and 
concluded we would come and help you.” 

“You are very kind,” said Reuben, smiling in 
spite of his fears ; “ but I am not quite disposed to 
pine away so soon.” 

“ Pretty good,” said Andrew, catching the turn 
Reuben gave to Jim’s extravagant estimate of the 
work to be done. 

“I am a little embarrassed,” said Jim, “and did 
not say exactly what I meant. Take me as I mean, 
not as I say.” 

“ A good rule,” replied Andrew. “ Lots of times 
I say things just the opposite of what I mean, and 
expect my friends to change the words around to 
fit my actions ; but often I have found they were 
offended when I meant to compliment.” 

This remark was a burst of sunlight to Reuben. 
He wanted to ask Andrew if that was the way he 
referred to Dave helping him, but while he hesitated 
Jim began talking again. Reuben accepted the 
explanation as if made direct to him, and was in a 
pleasant frame of mind instantly. 

“ The fact is,” said Jim again, “ father brought a 
young filly home, and she is so wild that we are 
afraid to do any thing with her. Could you come 
and help us, Reub? ” 


Surprised and Captured. 


195 

“ I could, but I have promised to carry the coal 
up, and — ” 

“ That’s what we are here for,” said Jim and Dan 
together. 

“Yes,” said Andrew, seeing Reuben’s puzzled 
face. “ We are going to help you get the coal 
up — we asked Professor Johnson if we might — so 
we could have the rest of the day for breaking the 
colt.:’ 

“ Saturday is the best time for all of us, and we 
thought it would be fun to see you ride her,” added 
Henry. 

“ Now, look here, boys, breaking a colt is fun for 
me, but there is no trick in this thing, is there?” 
asked Reuben, not knowing how to interpret such 
kindness. 

“The only trick I can see,” said Jim, “ is getting 
the coal up quick.” 

Then Reuben saw that they would hardly put in 
two hours’ hard work to get a chance to play a trick 
on him. 

The forenoon was only half gone when the five 
boys, somewhat tired, very hot, and with spots of 
coal-dust on face and hands, gathered about the 
pump under the porch that ran along the side of 
the dining-room, kitchen, and store-room at Dr. 
McGrew’s home. 

When they had drank of the clear, cold water. 


196 


Reuben. 


Jim set before them a huge wash-basin, with water, 
soap, and towel, and said : 

“ We will clean up out here. It’s handier than 
going lip-stairs to my room.” 

While they were washing Jim went into the 
house, but returned quickly, and said, “We will 
rest a while before we go out to the pasture.” 

The boys sat down on a settee, taking care that 
Reuben should be in the middle, and not off to one 
side. 

“ Refresh^ourselves on these,” said Jessie, com- 
ing out with a plate full of the lightest, brownest, 
and most tempting doughnuts that Reuben had 
ever seen, not excepting his mother’s, he thought 
then. “ The cook has had good luck for once,” 
she said. 

“ That cook always has good luck on such as 
these,” said Jim, biting off a piece larger than strict 
good-manners would justify. 

“ Hush ! ” said Jessie, putting her hand over Jim’s 
mouth so quickly and firmly as to threaten suffoca- 
tion under the circumstances. 

“ Well, you do ! ” he added. 

“ I am not the cook,” she said. 

“ Well, give me another to put in my pocket. 
Boys, take one to eat as we go.” 

“What better proof. Miss Jessie, could you ask 
of our high appreciation of your skill, than our full 


Surprised and Captured. 197 

hands and that empty plate, seeing the sun yet lacks 
two hours of meridian ?” said Dan. 

“ I shall believe you are sincere in your praise if 
you will permit me to go with you to the pasture,” 
she said, gaily. 

“Of course,” said Jim. “Do come. You shall 
be audience at this exhibition.” 

Reuben had sat silent, munching his doughnut, 
and feeling ill at ease in the presence of the boys 
who were so at home, especially as Jessie had come 
unexpectedly upon him, making his rough and 
ill-fitting clothing appear worse than ever in com- 
parison with her own simple, but fine and perfectly 
fitting, attire, not to mention the quality and beauty 
of the boys’ clothing. 

“ Is this to be another case of Prince Alexan- 
der and Bucephalus?” she asked, looking toward 
Reuben. 

He could not reply, for he did not know the 
meaning of her words, and dared not say yes or no. 
Neither of the others answered, and Jessie asked 
him directly, 

“ What do you say, Reuben ? ” 

“ I will leave you to judge,” he said, at a 
venture. 

“ I am not competent, for I am prejudiced now 
in the prince’s favor.” 

Her tone and manner, and not her words, encour- 


98 


Reuben. 


aged Reuben to believe that he had nothing to fear 
from her verdict on his efforts. 

She joined the boys after a moment’s absence 
in the house, and went with them to the pasture 
where the filly was quietly grazing all unconscious 
of what awaited it at the hands of the young 
student. 


Reuben’s Father Makes a Discovery. 199 


CHAPTER XV. 

REUBEN’S FATHER MAKES A DISCOVERY. 

Before Mr. Ricketts left the farm he concluded 
that he would take the filly with him to Shackel- 
ford. If the lawyer should approve of his sending 
the one hundred dollars to the New York firm for 
a royal chart, he could sell the mare and lose no 
time in getting the money away. If he should de- 
cide to undertake the tracing of the lineage of the 
family in another way, the money for that purpose 
would be obtained from the sale of the horse. If 
nothing should be done in either direction, he could 
lead her back home as easily as he could lead her 
to town. He had not time to consult his wife on 
this point, but, taking the halter from the wagon, 
he caught the handsome young horse and led her 
away to market. While he was driving to town 
Reuben artd his volunteer helpers were getting the 
coal into the bins. When Mr. Ricketts drove into 
town Reuben had just gone to Dr. McGrew’s. 

“ Hello, thar ! ” Mr. Ricketts called, as he drove 
up to the seminary yard, where Professor Johnson 
was busy among the flowering plants, preparing the 


200 


Reuben. 


beds for wintering, raking up the few fallen leaves, 
his wife assisting him, and both working for love 
of the plants and of such out-door exercise. 

“Well?’' answered Mr. Johnson, going toward 
the wagon. “Ah, it’s you, Mr. Ricketts ! ” said the 
professor, as a nearer view told him who his visitor 
was. 

“ Where’s Reub ? ” said Mr. Ricketts, with little 
ceremony, not feeling particularly kindly toward 
Professor Johnson, or any other man who “got a 
living without work,” as he termed teaching. Be- 
fore his question was answered he surprised the 
professor by exclaiming : “ You’re the first teacher 
I ever seen that worked. But may be you’re not 
the teacher. Hired man, may be.” 

“ No. I am the teacher ; and a hired man too, for 
that matter. All teachers work, and work hard. 
This is play,” the professor said, holding up the 
rake. 

“ May be you have never plowed, nor mowed, 
nor grubbed hazel-roots,” said Mr. Ricketts, still 
doubting that Professor Johnson knew what work 
meant. 

“ O yes ; when I was a boy I did all that, but the 
hardest work of my life was done in that house 
there,” pointing to the seminary building. 

“You don’t say! Well, I’d never thought it. 
Where’s Reub ? He is my boy, you know.” 


Reuben’s Father Makes a Discovery. 201 

“ Yes, I know. He was here all morning, until a 
few minutes ago, and has gone now with some boys 
to break a colt.’* 

“ Do tell ! Well, now, that’s somethin’ like. 
When I was a boy there was no beast what I darsn’t 
back, and Reub, he’s growed up monstrous like his 
pop in that. I’ve learned him a heap ’bout horses, 
an’ he’s middling peart to take learnin’, and most 
powerful hard to back outen what he’s sot onto. 
I’ve seen him a-hangin’ to a colt when a horse-fly 
himself was afeard to hold on. I’m afraid of him in 
town. He might git hifalutin’ notions, and forget 
what he’d learned. I kinder miss the boy at feed- 
ing time. I cotched a powerful cold last night, and 
made my eyes water.” 

Mr.^ Ricketts blew his nose with a noise like a 
blast from a trumpet. Mrs. Johnson stood back in 
the yard, listening to the conversation. When she 
saw the big red handkerchief wave in the air and 
heard the trumpet-blast she said, only loud enough 
for her husband to hear : 

“ It’s a father’s heart, and not a cold, that makes 
his eyes water.” 

“ Is he doing any good here ? ” he asked the 
teacher. 

“ Indeed he is. He has conquered a place in the 
hearts of all of us, though he has been here only a 
few weeks.” 


202 


Reuben. 


“ You couldn’t tell me about where he is now, 
a-breakin’ that colt ? ” 

“ No, not exactly. Perhaps at Dr. McGrew’s 
house.” 

Well, IVe got business with the lawyer, an’, if 
you don’t mind, I’ll leave this here terbacker for 
him with you. His ma didn’t know what he’d like 
more ’n this,” said Mr. Ricketts, drawing a little 
closer and tossing the package over the fence. “ If 
you like thet kind you might take a hunk for your 
trouble,” he added. 

Professor Johnson picked the package up and laid 
the tobacco on the fence. 

“ I will be glad to deliver to Reuben any thing 
you may leave for him,” said the teacher; “but I 
do not think he will care for this ‘ terbacker,’ or any 
other kind.” 

“ Him ! You don’t know Reub. Why, he’s 
chewed ever sense he got outen dresses ; but the 
sly coon never showed a sign so his ma or me got 
onto him till two years ago. His ma, she cried 
’bout it, but I ’lowed it was natural, and she’s come 
to it now.” 

' “ What would you think if I told you he had 
quit using tobacco?” said the professor. 

“ I should think you lied ; for ducks don’t quit 
''swimmin’ if there’s water nigh, and Reub’s fathers, 
clear back, chewed, and smoked too.” 


Reuben’s Father Makes a Discovery. 203 

“ Does liis mother use tobacco ?” asked Professor 
Johnson. 

Her?” said Mr. Ricketts. Nancy? My wife? 
Reub’s ma ? Now, look a here, may be you think 
we be he’thun ! If Nancy ever did a dirty thing 
no man durst stan’ up and say it. Does your wife 
chew, mister ? No ! Then, jest ’cause we don’t 
live in town you think my wife chews ! ” 

Mr. Ricketts shook his whip vengefully at Profes- 
sor Johnson, who quietly laughed at the tempest 
his question had aroused. When Mr. Ricketts 
ceased speaking the teacher said : 

I always give my wife a part of all the good 
things I have to eat.” 

“ Well, but terbacker aint fit to eat,” exclaimed 
Mr. Ricketts. 

“ That’s what we think ; so we don’t eat it,” said 
the teacher, kindly. 

“An’ Reub’s took up that new-fangled notion, 
too ? Humph ! Well, you give him that terbacker 
to taper off on !” 

Mr. Ricketts cracked his whip and dashed off 
without learning definitely where he could find Reu- 
ben. Before he reached the livery-stable he remem- 
bered the omission and returned to inquire further 
particulars. But Professor Johnson and his wife 
were gone from the seminary, and Reuben’s father 
did not know where to find them. 


204 


Reuben. 


“ Now, if you can show me a cheaper way that, 
I’m here to be showed,” Mr. Ricketts said, after he 
had told Colonel Dale about , the royal chart and 
the fortune from over the sea. 

I can show you a very cheap way to get every 
cent of money due you or your wife from any royal 
estate,” said the lawyer, promptly and confidently. 

“ I knowed you could, and that’s why I come. I 
’lowed a hundred was a heap of money to pay for a 
little chart.” 

“ Well,” said the lawyer, “ from what you say I 
conclude that your wife does not care for the money, 
but would like the chart to satisfy her mind that 
she is really of royal descent.” 

“ That’s it ; jist as good as I could hev’ told it 
an’ a heap intelligenter,” said Mr. Ricketts, enthusi- 
astically. 

“ Well, you don’t care much about the royal part, 
so you can get the money.” 

That’s the k’rect view,” said Mr, Ricketts, hitch- 
ing his chair a little closer to the lawyer, and lean- 
ing forward to catch every word. 

“ If you should . pay one hundred dollars for the 
chart and never get any money you would feel you 
had been cheated, wouldn’t you ? ’ 

‘‘ Monstrous bad cheated.” 

“ If your wife could see you come in possession 
of as much money as you expect, and not be certain 


Reuben’s Father Makes a Discovery. 205 

she was a descendant of royalty, she would not be 
much happier than she is now, would she ?” 

“ I ’low, no.” 

“ Now, I can tell you how any one can show he 
has royal blood in his veins, and it will not cost you 
a cent.” 

“ Well?” said Mr. Ricketts, eagerly. 

“ By doing royal deeds. That’s the only sure 
sign. That never fails.” 

“ I see,” said Mr. Ricketts, settling back in his 
chair a little disappointed. 

“ Now, as to the money,” continued the lawyer — 
and his listener braced himself to hear the worst, 
having already caught an idea of what was coming 
— “ all the money you or any other American can 
get from England on account of royal ancestors can 
be carried in a baby’s fist without showing around 
the edges.” 

“Sure?” gasped Mr. Ricketts, for as he drove 
into town he had picked out the house he was go- 
ing to buy when he got the money. In a moment 
he sighed : “ Well, I don’t care so much for my- 
self, but Reub — he’s my boy — is wanting to go to 
school here, and I ’lowed he mought if I got that 
money.” 

“O yes; Professor Johnson has told me some- 
thing about your boy. He is already here at 
school, isn’t he ?” 


206 


Reuben. 


Yes ; been here ’most a month now.” 

“ Well, now, Friend Ricketts, my advice to you is 
to spend less money on churns and charts, and put 
more on your boy.” 

“ Well, I ’lowed if he wanted an eddication he 
mought get it as I got my farm — work for it.” 

“ I suppose he has been a good boy at home, and 
worked well ? ” 

“ Monstrous good boy. Never was whipped in 
his life. Ever sense he’s ten years old he’d go 
ahead an’ do his part o’ the work. I miss him 
powerful, though his ma keeps up his en’ right 
’long. He takes after his ma in work, an’ after me 
in managin’.” 

Colonel Dale did not know whence came the 
inspiration, but acting on a sudden impulse he 
said, 

“ Then part of the farm belongs to the boy.” 

‘‘What’s that?” asked Mr. Ricketts, in surprise; 
for he had never thought of any partnership inter- 
est in any thing he owned. 

“ If your boy has worked as you say he has for 
the past five or six years, he has helped you grow 
your crops, and has earned part of the money you 
have spent for land, and owns part of the farm.” 

“Is that the law?” he asked. 

“ O, no ; that’s not the law, but it’s the Gospel.” 

“ How’s that?” asked Mr. Ricketts. 


Reuben’s Father Makes a Discovery. 207 

“ Well, the Gospel teaches love as a guiding rule ; 
not law. The law gives you absolute ownership of 
your farm. Love gives your boy his share of it.” 

The lawyer saw he had driven a nail into a sure 
place; and without knowing why he pushed ahead, 
remembering only that Professor Johnson had said 
that Mr. Ricketts’s boy was an unusually bright and 
attractive lad — a bundle of noble impulses, acute 
sensitiveness, high sense of honor, and unwearying 
industry. Thinking of the boy’s mother at home 
doing his work that he might go to school. Colonel 
Dale continued : 

“Your wife has helped you make your farm. 
She is entitled, by the rule of love, to one half in 
absolute right instead of an interest in your estate 
after you are dead.” 

All this was new doctrine to Mr. Ricketts. He 
had come to ask the lawyer’s advice, and was get- 
ting more than he called for. 

“ It seems to me, Friend Ricketts, that since 
your boy has helped you get your farm in its pres- 
ent shape, you ought to help him get his mind in 
shape for whatever he may want to do. If he had 
wanted to buy a piece of land and clear it up for a 
little farm adjoining yours, wouldn’t you let him 
have a team, wagon, plows, picks, and so on, to do 
it with ? ” 

“To be sure! to be sure! Powerful glad to let 


208 


Reuben. 


him have ’em all ; and I low Td take a hand with 
’im.” 

“ Well, then, since he wants to grub up the roots 
of ignorance and bad habits or false notions in his 
mind, why not let him have as much help as in 
the other case?” 

“ ’Cause it looks like throwing money away, since 
I never had much eddication.” 

What did you pay me money for a few weeks 
ago ? Didn’t you say you wished you had 
come to me before you made a trade with Mr. 
Stauffer? Suppose I had never gone to school, or 
studied, or read, how could I have done you any 
good? You see money used in developing the 
mind and heart is good investment, just like money 
put into a rough piece of land to clear it of stumps 
and stones.” 

Mr. Ricketts moved uneasily in his chair, but did 
not reply. 

“ How much has your boy’s schooling cost you 
so far?” the lawyer asked. 

‘‘Not a cent!” said Mr. Ricketts, promptly and 
honestly. 

“Not a cent?” repeated the lawyer, “and been 
here nearly a month! How did he get along so 
far without money?” 

“ Worked his way, I reckon. That’s what he 
started out to do, and he never backed from any 


Reuben’s Father Makes a Discovery. 209 

thing he ever started on to,” said Mr. Ricketts, 
proudly; for he never tired of boasting how his boy 
worked. 

“ And you here talking about paying a hundred 
dollars to find out whether he has royal blood in 
his veins ! That’s the stuff kings are made of. 
No king was ever worthy the name who did not 
conquer his way to the title. Go home and tell 
your wife to rest easy. She is royal, beyond a 
doubt, if your boy is a sample. She needs no chart 
to trace back. Let her begin here and trace for- 
ward, if such a thing can be. As miners say, 
‘ Here’s a lead that means wealth and honor.’ ” 

Colonel Dale had risen from his chair and was 
delivering his remarks into Mr. Ricketts’s astonished 
ears as he would have delivered an argument to a 
jury in some important case in court. 

“ Give the boy a chance, and if he doesn’t lead 
you both to genuinely royal positions and worthy 
fame I miss my guess.” 

“ Do you ’low there’s a chance of his ever bein’ 
as pretty a talker as you ? ” asked Mr. Ricketts, 
seriously. 

“ O, nonsense,” exclaimed the lawyer ; “ and pay 
your compliments where they are more needed.” 

“ Did you ever hear from that there Stauffer 
again?” asked Mr. Ricketts, changing the subject 

purposely. 

14 


210 


Reuben. 


“ Yes, he’s back ; and is talking around about your 
having money that belongs to him, and threatening 
what he is going to do.” 

Well, why didn’t you tell him you gave the 
money to his wife.^” exclaimed Mr. Ricketts, in 
astonishment. 

“Because I didn’t. I have it yet in bank. His 
w’ife is not here. It seems that when he went 
away she and her daughters left to visit relatives 
in Indiana, and have not returned. I didn’t tell 
him any thing about it, for I wanted to save that 
home for his wife. As soon as she comes back I’ll 
attend to it.” 

“ But he’s sneaking, you say, and mought do mis- 
chief to my house, you know.” 

“ O, he will bluster around a good deal; but I 
think he is not dangerous.” 

But the knowledge that Stauffer was in the 
neighborhood and did not know that he had acted 
generously in the matter of the money annoyed Mr. 
Ricketts, and so filled his mind with fears of what 
might occur at his home in his absence that he 
determined to return at once. 

“ Hello, stranger,” said Mr, Thompson, as he met 
Mr. Ricketts on his way home — the handsome filly 
trotting behind the wagon — “ that is a fine colt you 
have tied behind the wagon. What will you take 
for her?” 


Reuben’s Father Makes a Discovery. 21 i 

“I’m not caring to sell; but if she is worth as 
much as two hundred dollars to you you can have 
her.” 

Mr. Thompson got out of his buggy, walked 
around the filly and examined her closely, but shook 
his head. 

“ She is not worth any thing alone, to me ; but I 
know where I can get her match. The team would 
make a handsome one. I wouldn’t mind giving 
you one seventy-five.” 

Since he left the lawyer’s office Mr. Ricketts had 
been wondering what plan he could devise to save 
his stock from Stauffer’s vengeful spirit if he should 
attempt to retaliate upon him, as the lawyer had 
suggested he might in their first interview. He 
could take care of the money easier than he could 
protect the horse. 

“ Well, I ’low you can have her if you can take 
her with you ; ’cause I don’t want to turn back. 
It’s a sign of bad luck, and I aint a huntin’ no more 
bad luck.” 

“ Throw in the halter you are leading her by, and 
the money is ready for y-ou.” 

“ Sartin, the halter goes. I’ve got dozens of ’em 
at home.” 

The money was handed out, and both men went 
on their way rejoicing. Mr. Ricketts chuckled over 
having made twenty-five dollars clear over his price 


212 


Reuben. 


on the filly and having saved seventy-five over the 
price he had made up his mind to sacrifice her at. 

“A pretty good day’s work — pretty good,” he 
said to himself, as he drove rapidly homeward. 

Mr. Thompson watched the horse he was leading 
behind his buggy more intently than he did the 
team that was drawing it, and his eyes sparkled and 
danced with pleasure. 

“A clean fifty made on that deal. I’ll get Dr. 
McGrew’s filly, and the team will fetch four-fifty — 
may be five hundred — in six weeks* time.” 

All day Mrs. Ricketts sang softly to herself as 
she went about her work and made extra prepara- 
tions for a Sunday dinner, counting confidently on 
eating it with an unbroken family group instead of 
watching with many a sigh the unturned plate and 
unoccupied chair; for every Sunday she had put a 
plate for Reuben, explaining to her husband, “ He 
might come.” 

When she saw the wagon drive up, earlier by two 
hours than she looked for its return, and occupied 
only by Mr. Ricketts, she faltered in her faith that 
Reuben was coming, and then laughed her fears 
away by saying, “ He got out to open the big gate, 
and is stealing up through the orchard and garden 
to surprise me. I will pretend not to see him until 
he gets in the door.” 

After enduring the suspense as long as she could. 


Reuben’s Father Makes a Discovery. 213 

she flung open the back door, expecting to see his 
handsome face peeping over the hedge-fence be- 
tween orchard and garden. When she saw he was 
not there, she buried her face in her apron and wept. 
This was the first time since he went away that her 
feelings had overcome her. 

Unsentimental, and almost harsh, Mr. Ricketts 
entered the house a few minutes later. Seeing his 
wife in tears he was moved by the sight, and ten- 
derly asked, “ Is it your tooth? ” 

She did not know that Reuben was coming soon, 
and on a strange errand. 


214 


Reuben. 


CHAPTER XVI. 

JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING. 

When Professor Johnson and his wife left the 
seminary, they went immediately to Mrs. Bard’s to 
leave there the plug of tobacco which Reuben’s 
mother had sent him. They — that is Professor 
Johnson, for his wife was not in the secret yet — 
thought it only fair to tell Mrs. Bard about the 
pond experience, so that she might not unjustly 
suspect her boarder of deceit. Mrs. Bard and Mrs. 
Johnson were intensely interested in the recital, 
and both were unsparing in their praise of his 
courage in stopping short a habit so thoroughly 
established, and his strength of will in successfully 
combating the temptations to return to the use of 
tobacco. 

“ I will deliver the package to him in such a way 
as not to cause him to suspect I know what it is,” 
Mrs. Bard said ; “ for he is sensitive and very easily 
embarrassed.” 

Jim led the way to the pasture where the filly 
was alone. A single tree stood ‘in the center of the 
little field, and it was understood that Jessie was to 


Joy Cometh in the Morning. 215 

sit with one or the other of the boys, while the rest 
subdued the colt. 

“ A perfect picture of Queen!” exclaimed Reu- 
ben, as he caught sight of the horse. “ If I did not 
know she was at home this very minute, I should 
say that she was none other.” 

H is heart jumped into his throat as he recalled his 
favorite filly at home, and his affection went out to 
this stranger because of the resemblance to the one 
he knew so well. His sensitive soul was so stirred 
that he walked rapidly forward to hide the annoying 
tears that always filled his eyes when deeply moved. 

The horse saw them coming, and lifted her head 
in proud surprise that they should dare interrupt 
her morning lunch. She stood firmly on all four 
feet, her side toward the advancing group, her head 
turned to gaze them full in the face, her thin, taper- 
ing ears standing erect and thrown forward to catch 
the faintest sound. Her body was the perfection 
of shapeliness, covered with a glossy coat of softest 
and blackest hair. Her mane was abundant, and 
lay over on one side of a neck that accorded in 
proportion to the beautiful body, and curved grace- 
fully up to a head that any artist would choose 
as a model. The forelock fell in a mass over the 
wide forehead and dropped around the eyes, which 
flashed out a look of inquiry that made all feel that 
they were intruders indeed. 


2i6 


Reuben. 


“You say she is wild?” asked Reuben of Jim, 
turning toward him as he waited for them to come 
up. 

“Yes, no one has ever ridden her.” 

“ She may be wild, but she is not bad. No horse 
ever looked like that and had a bad heart. Some- 
body has abused her.” 

“ We will have to drive her into the stable to 
bridle her,” said Dan. 

“O no,” said Jim; “she is gentle enough until 
you get a bridle on her. There ! I must go back 
and get the saddle.” 

“ Not for me,” said Reuben ; “ the bridle is all I 
want. If you would just as soon, you may go over 
by the tree while I take her alone.” 

“ Don’t you want us to hold her while you get 
on ? ” asked Andrew, anxiously. 

“ Not now; perhaps by and by.” 

Rather reluctantly they filed off toward the 
tree, and left Reuben to advance alone toward the 
animal. 

“ What is her name ? ” he called to Jim. 

“ Don’t know. No one has named her yet.” 

“Good? Then I will,” said Jessie. She hesi- 
tated a minute, and then called back to Reuben, 
who stood waiting for her decision as to name, “ Let 
it be ‘ Beautiful.’ ” 

Reuben bowed his acquiescence. 


Joy Cometh in the Morning. 217 

“ Put your bridle behind you,” called Jim, “ until 
you get hold of her foretop.” 

“No; I will be honest with her all the way 
through,” said Reuben. 

Beautiful had watched their movements with in- 
terest, sometimes looking toward the receding group 
as they slowly stepped backward in the direction 
of the tree, and sometimes eyeing Reuben as he 
slowly advanced toward her, holding the bridle in 
plain sight before him, once or twice lifting it up to 
re-arrange the reins and adjust the head-stall. 

“ Ah, my Beautiful ! I wish you could see my 
Queen. You w'ould be fast friends, I know, for you 
could not tell which was yourself.” 

The horse watched Reuben closely, and did not 
move a muscle until the boy had put his hand on 
her neck and slipped it forward and grasped her 
forelock. 

“ Is that your wild horse?” said Dan to Jim, as 
he saw the bridle slip into place without a sign of 
resentment on the part of the horse. 

“ Wait. Any one could do that. It has been 
done lots of times. What good is a bridle on a 
horse if nothing else ?” 

Reuben patted the neck of the docile Beautiful, 
smoothed out her glossy and heavy foretop, turned 
her head gently, and pulled it down until he could 
look into her eyes, talking all the time in such tones 


2I8 


Reuben. 


as one would use in addressing an amiable child. 
He passed the reins over her head, gathered them 
up in his left hand, placed his right on her forward 
quarters, and made as though he would spring to 
her back, keeping his eyes on the horse’s head. 
He was rewarded by a glare from the flashing eyes 
that said plainly, “ At your risk ! ” He again went 
to her head and talked soothingly to her, telling her 
that'he wanted to ride, as his pretty Queen would 
permit him to do if she were present. Again he 
took position to mount. This time there was not 
the fierce glare, but a look which seemed to say, 
“ I thought you wouldn’t be so foolish.” 

He sprang, but was only partially successful, for 
he knew five pairs of eyes were watching him with 
critical interest, and his movement was not as free 
from doubt as usual at such times. As he balanced 
himself a second on the round back of the swiftly 
running horse, his head and heels playing teeter, 
his hat dropped and was viciously kicked by the 
horse as it sped on. The next instant Reuben was 
astride the animal’s back, and, but for the fact that 
he was bareheaded, he could not have been better 
pleased than to know that Beautiful had a rider now 
that had not yet loosened his grasp on a horse until 
he chose to dismount. 

As seen from the tree the exhibition was an ex- 
citing one. Beautiful put her head between her 


219 


Joy Cometh in the Morning. 

fore feet, not slacking her speed to any perceptible 
degree, and swung her body, from her forward 
quarters back, from side to side, suddenly changing 
the motion to her head and shoulders. But Reuben 
laughed and kept his seat and his good humor, 
calling the horse pet names, and whenever she 
ceased these pranks and settled down to a steady 
run, patted her neck affectionately and bade her go 
ahead without fear of harm from him. She stopped 
short once and reared up on her hind feet, pawing 
the air with her fore feet as if climbing some lad- 
der, straightening up until there was every indica- 
tion that she would fall over backward and crush 
Reuben beneath her body. 

Jessie saw the danger and screamed shrilly, hid- 
ing her eyes in her handkerchief, and turning en- 
tirely about, shuddering, and gasping, “ Oh-h ! ” 

Reuben heard the cry and noted its tone of alarm. 
He was not at a loss for an expedient in this crisis. 
He delivered a vigorous blow with his right fist 
just back of BeautifuTs ear. She dropped instantly 
on her feet, and sprang forward for another wild 
run. 

The boys were no less agitated than Jessie, but 
they restrained their cry until they saw Reuben 
flying away on the back of the proud horse. Then 
they swung their hats in air and huzzahed long 
and loud. Reassured by their shouts Jessie looked, 


220 


Reuben. 


and waved her handkerchief to cheer the intrepid 
rider. 

It was a contest between the endurance of Reuben 
and that of the horse. Reuben thought the chances 
were in favor of the horse, for he was weary when 
he began the struggle ; for, while the other boys 
had carried a hodful of coal each trip as they as- 
cended the stairs, he had made as many trips as they 
and carried two hods each time. He knew he could 
slip off the horse when he pleased and escape in- 
jury, but he did not wish to abandon the struggle 
that way. Though he had proven his horsemanship 
he did not wish to quit until he could dismount 
and mount the horse at will. An accident, so far 
as he was concerned, gave him the advantage he 
needed. Again the horse reared as before, climb- 
ing higher and higher, until head and tail marked 
zenith and nadir. His friends were watching him 
in easy frame of mind, for they had seen him in 
just such emergency, and waited for his escape in a 
manner as before. Instead he slipped off, and, 
deftly pulling the bridle rein, threw the horse upon 
its back, and, springing to her head, held it close to 
the ground. 

The boys ran forward, crying : 

“ She is dead ! She is dead I ” 

Jessie followed, walking rapidly, saying: 

“ Poor Beautiful ! It’s too bad ! ” 


Joy Cometh in the Morning. 221 

Reuben held the head to the ground, and talked 
kindly into the one silken ear that trembled under 
his face. He patted her neck and laid his hand 
lovingly on her heaving side. 

“ Is she dying ? ” asked the boys, eagerly. 

“ No,” said Reuben, smiling into their faces ; 

she is resting.” 

“And isn’t she dead?” said Jessie, standing off 
at a safe distance. 

“ No more than I am,” said Reuben. “ The only 
difference is she is about ready to quit while I am 
just beginning. She thinks I am stronger because 
I know more.” 

“You are Prince Alexander,” said Jessie, enthu- 
siastically, 

“ Am I ? ” said Reuben, blushing, not knowing 
whether that was a compliment, but guessing it was 
from Jessie’s manner. 

“ Boys, if one of you will get my hat, wherever 
it is, I will be obliged.” 

“ I will,” said Jim, hurrying away. He picked up 
the hat where it lay when so viciously kicked by 
the heels of the horse. There was a suspicion of a 
break in the straw, where the hoof had struck it, but 
it would have lasted a long time with careful hand- 
ling. Jim, however, thrust his arm through the 
crown where the break was, and, returning, said : 

“ I am going to keep this as a relic of the battle, 


222 


Reuben. 


Reub. You can have mine — it is nearly new. Then 
we will remember each other ! ” 

With this he put his own new hat on Reuben’s 
head, and donned Reuben’s straw. There was no 
appeal from such a decision, and Reuben accepted 
the exchange without a word, for he did not know 
how to reply. 

The horse was permitted to get up. She was 
subdued. Reuben mounted her back, accepting the 
offered hand of Andrew as a stirrup to help him 
into place. Beautiful walked docile as a plow-horse 
to the stable, where Jessie left them to further train 
the filly in the mysteries of saddles and harness, 
while she hastened into the house to tell of the 
success of “ Prince Alexander,” as she now called 
Reuben. 

Jim had said nothing to Reuben about paying 
him for breaking the horse, and now that the work 
was done he was at a loss to know how to get Reu- 
ben to take pay for what he had undertaken for the 
amusement there was in it. Finally he said : 

“ Would you mind coming over every Saturday 
for a while — say about six weeks — and train Beau- 
tiful ? Father Wants you to. He will pay you a 
dollar and a quarter for it.” 

“ I should like to very much, but I do not want 
to take money for it,” said Reuben. 

“ Father is peculiar, and does not like to have 


223 


Joy Cometh in the Morning. 

his work done for nothing. Here is the money,” 
said Jim, handing Reuben the seven dollars and 
fifty cents, all in paper bills, except the fifty cents. 

“ Not all this,” said Reuben. “ I thought you 
said a dollar and a quarter.” 

“ So I did. Six weeks ; a dollar and a quarter 
a week ; seven dollars fifty cents,” said Jim. 

“ O, thank you ! ” and immediately his tears 
made him rush away and hasten home, for the noon 
hour had fully come and Mrs. Bard would be wait- 
ing for him. His heart throbbed joyously all the 
way home as he thought of his good fortune. 

Dinner was quite ready and Mrs. Bard very kind. 
Reuben wondered why. She said nothing about 
the package from his home until after dinner, judg- 
ing that he would be much affected by any token 
from his mother. She was correct, and it was best 
that she waited. When Mr. Bard came he called 
his wife into the sitting-room to ask her assistance 
in getting to Reuben the ten dollars Mr. Thompson 
had ordered paid for caring for his horses and train- 
ing them. 

“ Here,” she said, sticking the bill under the fold 
of the paper around the tobacco, “ his mother sent 
him this, and the money can go with it. By and 
by we can explain to him.” 

‘‘ Capital idea,” said Mr. Bard, and the dinner was 
eaten in peace and with relish by all. Reuben ex- 


224 


Reuben. 


plained to his friends how Jim had compelled him to 
exchange hats. “ But,” he added, blushing, ‘‘ my 
new hat doesn’t match my clothes.” 

No one said any thing for a minute, though Mr. 
and Mrs. Bard were both wishing to express kindly 
and gently what was in their minds. Finally he 
said : 

“ Get a suit to match your hat, Reub.” 

I would,” said Reuben, for his own heart sug- 
gested that very course, “but I — well, I may just 
as well tell the truth ; — I haven’t the money.” 

“ I will let you have some,” said Mr. Bard, kindly. 

“ Thank you,” said Reuben, “ but father would 
not like for me to borrow money.” 

“ Never mind, my boy ; something will turn up 
in your favor soon,” said Mrs. Bard, kindly. 

Then Reuben told them about Jim making him 
take the seven and a half dollars, and added : 

“ But I owe that to mother for the money she 
gave me when I started here.” 

“ O yes ! I have something from your mother 
here,” and she brought the package and explained 
how the professor had left it. 

Reuben retired to his room without a word, for 
he knew, as soon as be touched the package, what 
it was. An hour later Mrs. Bard became uneasy 
about his staying so long in his room. She knocked 
gently, but received no answer. She pushed the 


Joy Cometh in the Morning. 225 

door open softly and saw Reuben lying across his 
bed asleep. The excitement and unusual exertion 
of the morning, combined with the struggle against 
this temptation put in his way unwittingly by the 
gift from his mother, had overcome him, and he 
was finding relief in sleep. She noticed that the 
package Was unwrapped on bistable, the edge of 
the bill still visible where she had placed it. 

When he awoke he was ashamed of his having 
slept the afternoon nearly away. But he was 
strengthened by his rest. As he came out to at- 
tend to his work Mrs. Bard called him into her room 
and told him. she knew all about his struggle and 
honored him for his noble stand for right. She 
asked him to bring her the tobacco. He did so, 
and came back with smiling face, having found the 
ten-dollar bill, which he guessed his father had 
stuck under the paper at the Jast moment ; “ for 
mother was never that careless about money,” he 
said. 

Mrs. Bard left the explanation of how the money 
got there to her husband. 

Reuben went about his work joyfully, feeling 
very rich, with seventeen dollars and a half in 
money, a new hat, and his tuition provided for. 

The day promised to end without a cloud, but 
Dave Pingwell called to tell Reuben something he 

had heard down town about Mr. Ricketts. 

15 


226 


Reuben. 


CHAPTER XVII. 

REUBEN’S ROUGH RIDE. 

When Reuben slept away nearly all of that Sat- 
urday afternoon he did not know that a kind Provi- 
dence was in that way preparing him, by needful 
rest, for an arduous task that lay just ahead — a task 
that should at once prove his undaunted courage 
and his unfaltering love for his home and his father 
and mother. 

When Mr. Thompson reached the main street of 
Shackelford leading the horse he had just bought 
of Mr. Ricketts, he attracted the attention of many 
citizens. He was known to be a lover of fine 
horses and a good judge of their excellent quali- 
ties. A horse he would buy at once attracted at- 
tention because he bought it. He stopped in front 
of Colonel Dale’s office to speak to a friend. The 
lawyer was standing on the sidewalk in front of his 
office. 

“ Where did you pick up that beauty, Thomp- 
son?” he asked, pointing to the young mare. 

Right out here at the edge of town. An old 
farmer was taking it home because none of you fel- 
lows wanted it, I guess.” 


Reuben’s Rough Ride. 


227 


“ Did you know him ? May be he has another. 
I wouldn’t mind having one like that myself,” said 
Colonel Dale. 

“ No, I don’t know his name ; but I have seen him 
in town often. He is a heavy-set man, with small 
eyes and very thick and long eyebrows. Rather a 
pleasant face, with pouting lips when he is thinking 
about any thing.” 

“ When were you ever a detective, Thompson ? ” 
said Colonel Dale. 

Never. Why?” 

“ You must be a close observer, and you are cer- 
tainly good at describing a man’s appearance. That 
old gentleman is a rich farmer out at the Grove. 
Jacob Ricketts is his name.” 

“Ricketts? Ricketts?” said Thompson. “That 
name sounds familiar, but I don’t think I ever met 
that man to know him.” 

“He has a boy here in the seminary,” said the 
colonel, 

“ That’s it, now,” said Thompson, quickly. “ Bard 
told me about that fellow. He is a sharp boy, and 
the best hand with horses I ever met.” 

“A promising boy, I judge ; but he ought to have 
another father,” said the colonel, and turned away, 
while Mr. Thompson drove on. A little farther 
down the street he was stopped by a group of men 
who wanted to examine his new purchase. The 


228 


Reuben. 


two or three who came to look at the horse at- 
tracted others, until more than a dozen had gathered 
about the buggy, most of them silent spectators. 
In the crowd was Stauffer. He was not silent. He 
never was. 

“ Where did you get her, did you say ? ” he 
asked. 

“ Bought her to-day of a fellow named Ricketts,” 
said Thompson, answering Stauffer’s question while 
talking to another man. 

Presently Stauffer drew near to Thompson’s bug- 
gy, and, motioning him to lean over, he whispered in 
his ear several questions, and received his answers 
in the same confidential manner. 

“Have you paid for that horse yet? ’cause I 
could make it to your advantage if you hadn't.” 

“ Yes ; paid the cash in hand about an hour ago.” 

“ Well, Pm sorry. Paid a pretty good price ?” 

“ I should want two-fifty for her,” said Mr. 
Thompson, evasively. 

“ Well, that means you paid about two hundred 
I ’low,” said Stauffer. “ I could have saved you a 
hundred.” 

“ How’s that ? ” asked Thompson, with interest. 

“ Well, you see, Ricketts owes me about a thou- 
sand. I would have giv’ you an order for two hun- 
dred on him, an’ you could have paid me a hundred 
for it. Do you see?” 


Reuben’s Rough Ride. 229 

“Yes ; but may be he would not have paid the 
order, or let the horse go on it.” 

“ O yes, he would. Td make it hot for ’m if he 
wouldn’t.” 

“ Well, I am sorry ; but it is too late now,” said 
Mr. Thompson. 

“ Did you pay him the hull two hundred right 
down ? ” asked Stauffer. 

“Yes; I paid him every cent right in hand.” 

“ Well, it’s no use whinin’ now, but I ’low I’ll get 
some of that there money, if not all,” said Stauffer, 
backing out of the crowd, while Mr. Thompson 
drove on not heeding the conversation, as he sup- 
posed Stauffer was only bragging when he said Mr. 
Ricketts owed him. 

In the crowd who looked at the horse while 
Stauffer and Thompson were talking was Dave 
Pingwell. He heard the name Ricketts, and after- 
ward gave particular heed, and stood close, so he. 
could catch nearly all that was said. Trouble 
of any kind had a fascination for Dave. When 
he saw a man angry and swearing vengeance he 
made it a business to follow him up, hoping his 
fiery temper would get him into trouble and he 
could be a witness of the episode. When Stauffer 
backed out of the crowd declaring “ old Ricketts 
had to pay him before the next sun went down,” 
Dave kept up with him as he passed from group to 


230 


Reuben. 


group of street loafers and told the story of his 
wrong. He wound up each time by declaring that 
Ricketts never had such a horse as that on his 
farm, but had bought it out of the six hundred 
dollars he had as good as stolen from him. He 
found ready listeners to his tale of woes. Some 
laughed at his recital as an exaggerated statement, 
if indeed it had any truth in it. Others believed 
him, and urged him to take the law in his own 
hands and forcibly enter Ricketts’s house and re- 
cover the money he had every reason to believe was 
there. One of this kind said, as in a joke : 

“ Give me half, Stauffer, and I will see you 
through this job.” 

“ Will you ? ” said Stauffer, eagerly. ‘‘ Come 
here.” 

They left the group and walked leisurely to the 
public park, where they sat on a settee under the 
trees and discussed the project. Dave was inter- 
ested by this time, and was cunning enough to get 
a place near by, and, while pretending to be reading 
an illustrated paper, was really listening to the 
scheme. He could not hear all, but he caught a 
statement occasionally. 

“ If he lets us in, all right,” said the partner. 
“ We will just sit down and wait until he pays us to 
leave. If he don’t let us in, why we will go in, and 
then we will help ourselves.” 


Reuben’s Rough Ride. 


23 


“ O, we will get in,” said Stauffer; ‘‘you go first 
and strike in for lodgin’. He will open up in a 
minute. I’ll stan’ in your shadow, an’ when you’re 
in I’ll step in.” 

“ We will wait until dark and then skip,” said the 
partner. 

This is the story Dave told Reuben. He did not 
come to him as a friend, to warn him, but rather to 
trouble him and see how he would act, for he loved 
trouble when it made others writhe. When he 
noted Reuben’s anxious face, pale under suppressed 
emotion, and the voice tremulous with solicitude, in 
which his hasty questions were asked, he feasted as 
he had rarely done. When Dave went home Reuben 
was left in a high state of excitement. The one 
thing he relied upon for hope was that Dave was a 
notorious liar, and he hoped this was one of the 
times when he had told very much more than was 
true. 

He thought over the matter until after supper. 
He then surprised Mr. Bard and his wife by an- 
nouncing his determination to walk home that night 
and that he would start immediately. 

“ Walk home ! ” exclaimed both. “ It is now 
nearly seven o’clock. You cannot possibly make 
the trip in less than five hours. That would be mid- 
night ! ” 

“Sure enough,” said Reuben, “but I have often 


232 


Reuben. 


hunted cows until midnight, after working hard all 
day. When midnight comes I will be at home ! ” 

“Can you not wait until morning?” suggested 
Mrs. Bard. 

“ I want to come back to-morrow. I could not 
make both trips in one day.” 

They did not press him to give up his project, for 
they could think of many reasons why he should 
want to go home, and they really thought it would 
do him good to see his mother. 

“ But see here,” said Mr. Bard : “ Mr. Thompson 
bought a new horse to-day ; may be he would let 
you ride it home.” 

“ Do you think he would? I should be so glad. 
He bought the horse of father. David Pingwell 
told me that. I helped to raise her from a colt.” 

“ Come with me and we will soon see,” said Mr. 
Bard. 

They hurried away to the store. Every minute 
seeming an age to Reuben. Mr. Thompson had 
not returned from supper when they got there. 

“ We will wait here, for if we went to his home we 
might miss him as he came down,” said Mr. Bard. 

The few minutes Reuben sat in the office waiting 
for Mr. Thompson dragged heavily. He was count- 
ing every minute as lost if Mr. Thompson should 
refuse the horse to him. When finally he came in, 
and Reuben was introduced as the boy who had 


Reuben’s Rough Ride. 233 

cared for his team, he greeted him cordially, and 
said : 

“You are a remarkable boy. I have just come 
from Dr. McGrew’s. Miss Jessie regaled me with 
an account of your exploits this morning. So you 
know the horse I bought ? ” 

“ O, yes,” said Reuben, smiling, but fretting un- 
der the slow speech of Mr. Thompson. 

“ And you helped to break her? Have ridden her 
lots of times? And broke the other horse, too — I 
bought Dr. McGrew’s to-night — did you ? Well, 
under the circumstances, you may take the filly. 
But mind you,” he added, laughing heartily, “ don’t 
you sell him back to your father, even if he offers 
double the money I gave him.” 

Reuben stopped to listen to these words, and re- 
plied respectfully, but all the time chafed under 
the restraint. When finally outside the store he 
ran to the stable and quickly saddled his beautiful 
Queen. She answered his call when he opened the 
stable-door, and rubbed her nose against his arm 
and breast as he bridled her. Once in the saddle 
he let her trot slowly out of town. He was too 
good a horseman to urge his steed at the beginning 
of a long journey. He wanted to get her warmed 
up gradually. 

As he descended the hill just outside the suburbs 
he saw in the starlight an open buggy, in which 


234 


Reuben. 


were two men, slowly creeping up the hill on the 
other side of the creek. His heart leaped up into 
his throat, for he guessed that the two men were 
Stauffer and his partner, and, if they were, he knew 
they were bound for his home. To satisfy himself 
of their identity he trotted briskly forward and over- 
took them. He passed them and recognized the 
peculiar and gaunt form and features of the churn 
agent. He rode leisurely ahead of them until he 
came to a cross-road. He then urged his horse 
forward in a gallop and disappeared down the road. 
When the buggy passed and was far in advance he 
returned to the road and followed so far behind 
that he was out of sight or hearing. 

He believed they would take the much-traveled 
road to his home, while he intended to take the 
short-cut ; the same route his father had pursued 
when trying to avoid Stauffer. By riding hard over 
this road he could easily reach home before they 
were within half an hour of the house. He had 
another object in taking the short-cut. In doing 
so he would go by the home of an old friend and 
chum, a boy of his own age, who had been his com- 
panion in many adventures while hunting in the 
woods at night. He believed he would have no 
difficulty in persuading him to go home with him 
and stay all night. He surely would want to hear 
how Reuben had fared in his school-life. He did 


Reuben’s Rough Ride. 235 

not reckon in vain. As they rode over the familiar 
way Reuben told his friend his fears and plans. 

“ What we want,” said Reuben, “ is to have them 
break open the door. Old Stauffer thinks I am in 
Shackelford, and he counts on scaring father into 
doing what he may dictate.” 

“Why not take them before they get to the 
door? Can’t you count on Bowser for one? You 
and I can handle the other.” 

“ No. Let them break in. Then we will catch 
them. Then they will be thieves and robbers and 
the law will make them suffer.” 

“ Good,” said his friend. “ You have learned lots 
at school already.” 

“ Only a mile now,” said Reuben, mounting after 
opening the last gate between them and the stable- 
yard at his father’s. “ Now let the fillies fly ! ” 

They did fly. The horses were quickly stabled, 
and the young men rushed to the house. Bowser 
came bounding out to meet them with fierce growl- 
ing. Reuben spoke one word, “ Bowser ! ” and 
the brave dog leaped and frisked about him like a 
kitten playing with a ball. The word to the dog 
reached Mrs. Ricketts’s ear. There was no mistak- 
ing that voice. Quickly she threw on her dress and 
flung open the door to admit her boy. In her 
eagerness to see him she had not noticed Albert 
Rice, his friend, who stepped in with him. 


Reuben. 


236 

Reuben was cool and collected now, and had 
braced himself against any breakdown at seeing 
his mother. Finally he said in quiet tones: 

“ We have come to save you from robbers.” 

“ Have you clean gone crazy, Reub?” asked his 
father, sitting up in bed. 

“ No, father, I am your own Reub.” 

“ Bin a-reading of dime novels, eh?” 

“No; I will tell you what I know, and then you 
can judge.” 

He told hastily what he had heard, and at the 
end said, “ How’s that ? ” 

“ Bad ’nough, bad ’nough,” said Mr. Ricketts, 
getting out of the bed and dressing. “ I’ll just 
go down to the big gate an’ meet the fellows, an’ 
save ’em the trouble o’ breaking open the door, or 
even sayin’ ‘ Hello, the house ! ’ When they set out 
to scare Jacob Ricketts they forget who he is.” 

“ But have you the money, father ? ” asked Reu- 
ben, anxiously. 

“ Not a cent; not a cent of any person’s money 
but my own,” said his father, pulling on his boots 
with a jerk. 

“ No, Reub,’’ said his mother. “ He took every 
cent to town and left it more than two weeks ago 
with the lawyer for Stauffer.” 

“ Boys, you may sit here by the fire and talk, or 
you may go with me to welcome the strangers.” 


Reuben’s Rough Ride. 


237 


“ Father, let me tell you my plan,” said Reuben, 
timidly, for he had never ventured before to cross 
his father’s plans in the least degree. 

‘‘Well, say on while I drop a ball in ‘Betsey* 
here,” he said, taking his rifle off the pegs above 
the door. 

“ My plan is their plan ; that is, let father answer 
their call without opening the door. We will keep 
Bowser inside and make him be still. Then let 
them break in. That will make them robbers. 
Bowser is good for two himself. If they show fight 
we will pitch in and tie them. If they don’t show 
fight we will keep them here until daylight, and 
then Albert will go for an officer, while father and I 
watch them.” 

“ Good *nough, good ’nough,” acquiesced Mr. 
Ricketts. “ But here, Reub, you dress up your 
little ‘belcher.’ ‘In time of peace prepare for war,* 
say I,” continued Mr. Ricketts, handing down 
Reuben’s rifle. 

Bowser was called in and quieted. The boys sat 
near the fire, but in the shadow of the chimney. 
The lamp was put out and only the flickering fire 
on the hearth illumined the room. They did not 
have long to wait. 

“ Hello, the house!” came from without. 

“ What’s wanted ? ” called Mr. Ricketts, in no 
amiable tones. 


238 


Reuben. 


“ Please, friend, give a traveler a night’s lodging.” 

“ Got no room,” shouted Mr. Ricketts. 

There was the sound of a whispered conversation 
out-doors. Then came another call, and in a differ- 
ent voice : 

“ Ricketts, give me that money and we’ll leave 
you.” 

“What money?” shouted Mr. Ricketts. 

“ The money you have in your house,” called the 
voice. 

“Who are you?” called Mr. Ricketts. 

“ Stauffer, you old thief. I want that ’ere money 
you’ve got.” 

“ Go away, or I’ll let the dog out.” 

“ Good ! Do. We are lonesome,” said the first 
speaker. 

Then they came to the door, not having ventured 
so near before, for till now they did not know where 
the dog was. They knocked loudly and demanded 
admittance. Their calls were not heeded. They 
ceased to knock for a minute, and then came a 
crash as they heaved a heavy stick of wood against 
the door. It flew open. They stepped in and 
faced Mr. Ricketts, who stood in the middle of the 
floor gun in hand. 

“ Stand there ! ” he cried. 

“ Ho, ho ! Old man, you can shoot once, but we 
shoot twice,” said Stauffer, drawing a pistol. 


Reuben’s Rough Ride. 


239 


The other man followed his example, while 
Mrs. Ricketts closed the door and put her back 
against it. 

“ Give us what money you’ve got and we will 
leave,” said the stranger. 

That’s fair, I ’low,” said Stauffer. 

As agreed upon beforehand, Reuben and Albert 
were crouching in the shadow of the great chimney. 
The men stood with their backs to the fire-place, 
facing Mr. Ricketts. The flickering light fell full 
in his face and showed the men that one at least 
would die if they raised their hands to shoot. 
Neither had come prepared for such an ending. 

“You hev’ come like thieves in the night an’ 
you’ll go like thieves in the day,” yelled Mr. 
Ricketts. 

By a motion Reuben had signaled Albert to 
attend to the stranger. He bowed his assent. 
Reuben sprang forward, releasing Bowser, whose 
jaws he had held tight in his hand, and seized 
Stauffer’s right wrist, throwing his left arm about 
his neck. Albert was equally successful in disarm- 
ing the stranger, while Bowser waited but a signal 
from Mr. Ricketts to spring upon either. Both 
men struggled violently, but Reuben’s mother came 
to his help, and his father grappled the stranger and 
shoved him into a chair, hissing into his face, “ Sit 
there an’ rest.” 


240 


Reuben. 


Stauffer succumbed immediately and began to 
beg for mercy, explaining that he came for his own 
money, and not Mr. Ricketts’s. 

The stranger protested that that was all he came 
for. That he would not have touched a cent of any 
other money, though there had been a bushel basket 
full in the house. 

“ I’m no common thief,” said Stauffer. “ I’m no 
thief at all,” he added. See here, Ricketts, if 
you’ll let up on me you needn’t pay that note.” 

Needn’t, eh ? What you got to say ’bout that 
note. It’s paid long ’go.” 

I’m sorry this here thing turned out this way,” 
said Stauffer, pleadingly. I’ll make all amends I 
know how, Friend Ricketts.” 

“ Well, I’ve sent Reub over to the off’ser’s house. 
You may just sit there till he comes. I aint no 
lawyer.” 

“ Then what ? ” asked Stauffer, anxiously. 

“ Then what ? ” repeated Mr. Ricketts. “ Where 
do robbers usually stop ? ” 


Strength for Better Endeavors. 241 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

gathering strength for better endeavors. 

Stauffer and his partner had not counted on 
any capture. Further than forcing an entrance into 
the house they had not reckoned on any violence. 
The more they thought on their situation the more 
anxious were they to discover a means of escape. 
They dreaded the humiliation of their return to 
Shackelford in charge of an. officer quite as much 
as the penalty that might be imposed by the court 
when tried. Indeed, Stauffer had so many times 
been in court as defendant, and escaped conviction, 
that he felt quite able to defeat justice on any count 
made against him. But he had never before been 
taken as a common criminal, and he chafed under 
the restraint imposed upon his movements. 

When the township constable arrived he brought 
his grown son with him. They both felt the im- 
portance of the work before them ; and as this was 
their first experience in handling real thieves and 
robbers, they determined to do their part so well 
that all the neighborhood should resound with 

praise of their care and skill. They were far more 
16 


242 


Reuben. 


vigilant in their watchfulness and more vigorous 
and rough in their measures than old and experi- 
enced officers would have been. The constable 
was an elderly man, in robust health, and his son a 
perfect counterpart, except younger. 

“ Be them they?” said the constable, pointing to 
the two as they sat near each other, as Mr. Rick- 
etts had ordered them to do. 

They be them,” said Mr. Ricketts. “ A pretty 
pair, aint they ? ” 

“Not oncommon pretty,” said the constable; 
“ have you any ropes handy, neighbor Ricketts ? ” 

“Ropes!” exclaimed Stauffer. “What do you 
want with ropes?” ^ 

“ Not to hang you. We aint no mob,” said the 
constable. 

When the ropes were brought — a pair of plow- 
lines, small, but very stout — the constable looked 
at them approvingly, handed one to his son and 
took the other himself, saying, 

“ Tie that fellow and I’ll do up this one, 
Sam.” 

“Gentlemen,” said the stranger, “that aint nec- 
essary. We are peaceable citizens and mean no 
harm to any one.” 

“Don’t tie us like crim’nals,” said Stauffer; “ iBs 
a disgrace ! ” 

“Neighbor Ricketts,” said the constable, turning 


Strength for Better Endeavors. 243 

to him, “did you say that these be them what 
came in that 'ere door at the en’ of a stick of 
wood ?” 

“ That’s c’rect,” said Mr. Ricketts. 

“ Then they’ll go out at the en’ of a rope. Per- 
ceed, Sam.” 

Resistance was useless on the part of Stauffer and 
his partner. They begged to be let go quietly and 
peaceably to town, declaring they would make no 
attempt at escape. 

“You mought change your mind,” said the con- 
stable, “ when I get to dozin’ on the road ; for I 
aint no hand to be up at night.” 

Thefr hands were tied securely behind them, and 
their feet hobbled so they could walk by taking 
steps about ten inches long. 

“Take my spring- wagon to haul ’em, and I’ll go 
’long and drive their buggy,” said Mr. Ricketts. 
“ I’ll carry their pistols for ’em.” 

The sun had not yet appeared, but the stars w^ere 
waning when the company drove out of the big 
gate and headed for town, leaving Reuben and his 
mother to spend the day alone; for Albert had 
gone home, eager to tell the news of the night’s 
happenings. 

Mrs. Ricketts and Reuben gave but little heed 
to the flying hours. There were various duties to 
attend to about the house and farm. Whatever 


244 


Reuben. 


was to be done both did. He helped her get break- 
fast and to clear the table. She helped him to feed 
the horses, milk the cows, and feed the hogs. When 
the old clock slowly told off the hour of twelve, 
either would have declared it was yet the middle 
of the morning. 

When Reuben told his mother of driving the 
team, shooting squirrels, breaking the colt for Dr. 
McGrew, and even riding out that night, she smiled 
only ; for such exploits were no more to her than 
similar ones, in which he had been chief actor, on 
the farm. 

But when he told her about going to Sunday- 
school, and how the preacher made it appear that 
to be a follower of the Prince of Peace was better 
than any earthly fame, her heart melted and her 
soul yearned to say that she gloried more in his 
understanding and appreciating such achievements 
than any deed of daring he could relate. But she 
said nothing, not feeling certain that that was the 
time to make a confidant of her son concerning her 
soul’s desires. 

When he told her of his struggle against to- 
bacco, and how he had always been ashamed that 
he had deceived her on the same matter so many 
years, and how he flung his money into the pond 
to shut off any chance to gratify his appetite, she 
broke down, and wept and sobbed out into his 


Strength for Better Endeavors. 245 

astonished ears, “ I am unworthy so brave and noble 
a son.” 

“No, mother; but for you I should never have 
had any good desires. Haven’t you talked to me 
about your people, and poured into my ears such 
stories of great things as to make me want to do 
something that you would be proud of, like you are 
of what they did ?” 

“ But remember what the Scriptures say, Reuben. 
I can’t repeat the exact words ; but it says, ‘ He 
that conquereth himself is greater than he that 
taketh a city,’ or something like that. Your ances- 
tors captured cities ; but I never read any thing 
about their conquering themselves as you have 
done.” 

Reuben blushed at his mother’s warm praise, 
while his soul trembled in ecstasy to know that she 
was willing to accord him a place with the great 
and noble of her thoughts. 

“ But ni tell you what is harder than giving up 
tobacco, because nobody seems to care whether you 
do or not.” 

“What is that?” asked his mother, considering 
what further surprise he had in store for her. 

“Mother! mother! please forgive me for think- 
ing it,” said Reuben, so suddenly and so intensely 
as to startle her greatly. 

“What can you mean, Reuben?” 


246 


Reuben. 


“ Please do not make me tell you. It is silly. 
It is not hard.” 

Reuben was greatly agitated. His mother had 
been all day so kind, so considerate ; had praised 
him so much ; had called him noble and brave, that 
he was ashamed that in return for all this he had 
almost said what he saw would give her great pain, 
for it would imply that he was displeased with what 
she had done. 

“ But you must tell me now,” she said, in such a 
gentle and wistful tone that he was thrust through 
with regret that he had permitted his lips to utter a 
hint of the matter. 

“ Mother, it was a complaint that I was about to 
make, and I am ashamed of it.” 

“ Let me know, and may be I can remedy the 
trouble.” 

“ But, mother, it is now as you want it, and 
I want it that way until you see best to change 
it.” 

Reuben saw that he was not satisfying his 
mother’s mind by such evasions and apologies. 
He determined to make a clean breast of the 
whole matter. Hiding his head on her shoulder, 
he said, 

“ I am ashamed of my clothes.” 

“ So am 1,” exclaimed his mother. 

“You, mother! Why, I thought you wanted me 


Strength for Better Endeavors. 247 

to dress this way. I was afraid I would hurt your 
feelings if I said I did not like them.” 

“ No, indeed ! Now hold up your head. Hurt 
my feelings by wanting to look nice ! ” 

“ Well, you never said any thing, and I thought 
you thought my clothes were good enough.” 

“ They are good enough as quality goes ; but I 
made one suit and your father bought the other. I 
made a mistake in cutting them out and he bought 
the other by guess, and wouldn’t exchange it for fear 
the merchant would think he didn’t know what he 
wanted the first time.” 

“Then you wouldn’t mind if I get same like the 
other boys wear?” 

“ No, indeed ; but I wish you could.” 

“ I can. There is that money father gave 
me.” 

“Your father! When did he give you any?” 

“Why, it was stuck in that tobacco you sent 
yesterday. I knew you didn’t put it there, for 
it was sticking out a little: so father must have 
sent it.” 

“ A mistake somewhere. He told me about the 
tobacco ; said he threw it over the fence to your 
teacher; but he couldn’t keep from telling it if he 
had intended to surprise you with money. That 
isn’t his way, anyhow,” said Mrs. Ricketts. 

They tried to explain to each other how the 


248 


Reuben. 


money got there, but could not satisfactorily ac- 
count for it. As a last resort Reuben said, 

“ Mr. Bard did it. He offered to lend me money 
to buy some clothes. I said no ; I could not bor- 
row except from you,” he added, looking kindly and 
waggishly at his mother. “ So he slipped that bill 
under the paper. That was at dinner. I said noth- 
ing about it ; so at supper he offered to lend it to 
me. I guess that was to make me know he thought 
1 ought to have some. No, I am wrong. It was 
all at dinner; but I didn’t find it until afterward. 
But that doesn’t seem right either. I don’t know 
how it got there.” 

“ Never mind that, now,” said his mother. “ You 
use the money to get clothes like the other boys’ — 
for you are just as good as they — and I will see that 
it is all right.” 

“ May I, mother?” asked Reuben, gleefully. 

“ Indeed you may. From what your father said 
last night, before you came, I think he is softening 
a little. The lawyer told him to spend less money 
on churns and charts and more on his son. He pre- 
tended to think the lawyer had better attend to his 
business and let your father’s alone ; but I could 
see he was tickled to think you had got your name 
up.” 

“ That is good news ! ” said Reuben, dancing 
around as he had not done for several weeks. 


Strength for Better Endeavors. 249 

“ Say, mother,” he said, stopping short in his gay 
movements, “ can’t you fix up a basket of fall pip- 
pins for me to take back? I haven’t had six apples 
in a month.” 

“No apples ! Dear me ! you may take the basket 
full to-day, and the next time the wagon goes down 
I will send a barrel.” 

“ I’ll tell you,” said Reuben: “ I’ll stop and see 
Albert as I go back, and ask him to bring you 
down next Sunday in the buggy. I just want you 
to see that church. I know none of your kings 
ever had a nicer house to live in than it is. Will 
you come?’' 

Such an idea was new to Mrs. Ricketts. The 
plan looked simple and easy, and Mrs. Ricketts’s 
heart leaped at the thought of such a privilege. 
But she said, 

“You would be ashamed of me among such fine 
people.” 

“ Ashamed of you ! Now, mother ! ” said Reuben, 
reproachfully. 

“ Well, if your father will stay at home without 
me, and Albert will go.” 

“ O, he wants to go. I wouldn’t be surprised 
if he would come to stay some time.” 

“ If he goes there to school he will not walk, as 
you did, I am sure.” 

“ No, indeed. He told me last night his father 


250 


Reuben. 


said he could keep a horse there and ride home 
every Saturday.’' 

“ Then his father wants him to go? ” 

“ Wants him to go ! Why he told him if he 
would stick to school a whole year he would give 
him a gold watch. Think of that ! ” said Reuben, 
in wonder. 

“ Doesn’t Albert want to go ? ” 

“ Yes, he wants to go, but he is afraid he will not 
know how to act,” said Reuben. “I told him to 
think of me. I made more balks than I have hairs 
on my head, and am not dead yet.” 

“ Well, I think you will do better when you get 
dressed like the rest of the boys,” said his mother, 
sympathizingly. 

“Could that make any difference, mother?” 

“ It would to me,”'she said. 

“ Now, when Miss Jessie asked me if I was going 
to be another Alexander and Bucephalus, I sat 
there and stuffed doughnuts in my mouth because 
I did not know who Bucephalus was. If I had had 
a silk hat on would I have known ? ” asked Reuben, 
laughing. 

“ Not exactly, but you wouldn’t have felt as 
uncomfortable as you did when you were ashamed 
of your ignorance and your clothes too,” said his 
mother. 

“ But who was Bucephalus; do you know?” 


Strength for Better Endeavors. 251 

Certainly ; I read that when I was a little girl. 
Prince Alexander was the son of King Philip. His 
father had a horse that no one could ride. He 
wouldn’t let his son try. But finally he consented 
to let him mount the horse and the prince subdued 
the animal, and afterward made it his war-horse. 
Together, the horse and Alexander, they conquered 
the world.” 

“ Well, do you know, when I got Beautiful gen- 
tle, Miss Jessie called me Prince Alexander, and I 
didn’t know certainly whether she was making fun 
or not ! ” 

“ Is she a nice young lady?” asked Mrs. Ricketts. 

“ The nicest I ever saw,” said Reuben, honestly 
expressing his mind. “It may be because she was 
so kind to me — I don’t know — but she seemed like 
— a — well, like I always thought an angel would 
seem ! ” 

“O, Reub, you are blind, my son!” exclaimed 
his mother, while a flood of memories of her own 
girlhood days poured over her. 

“ I don’t understand,” he said. 

“ Why, I mean you see all the good and none of 
the bad. When you are older you will see both.” 

“There is not any thing bad in Jim, or Jessie 
either,” he persisted. 

“ I hope not,” said his mother, knowing very well 
that such golden fancies could not always last, and 


252 Reuben. 

she intended to let Reuben dream until the stern 
experiences of life awakened him from the sleep of 
youth. 

“The oddest boy I ever saw is Dave Pingwell. 
Sometimes I like him and then I despise him. He 
doesn’t seem to care whether I am in a good humor 
or mad ; he clings to me all the time just the same.’* 

“ He has found something in you he likes. Do 
you mistreat him ? ” 

“No; when I am angriest at him for some mean 
thing he says or does I treat him l^st, for I hate to 
let him know he can annoy me — he is so insignifi- 
cant ! But he is generous, too.”* 

“ Ah, that is it. He has found out that he can 
come to you without fear of being repelled. He 
knows he is mean, I dare say, and every body has 
cast him him off, so he comes to you for sympathy 
and help.” 

“ Do you think so, mother? Am I helping him ?” 
asked Reuben, gladly. 

“ I am sure so,” she said. 

“ Well, I will keep on that way,’* said Reuben, 
enthusiastically. “ So many have been kind to me, 
I can afford to be kind to one. It is hard work 
sometimes.” 

“ Why do you think so many have been kind to 
you — when you were a stranger, poorly dressed, and, 
for all they knew, bad and mean?” 


Strength for Better Endeavors. 253 

‘‘ I never could tell,” said Reuben, with the frank- 
ness and honesty that always graced his manner. 

“ Well, I can tell you. It is — ” 

“ Hello ! there is father back,” he said, interrupt- 
ing his mother. 

Both went out to meet him and see what news 
he had brought from town. 

“ It will take a week. Wait till I put up the 
horses an’ I’ll make you gladder’n you ever were, I 
guess.” 


254 


Reuben. 


CHAPTER XIX. 

FINDING A BETTER WAY. 

While Mr. Ricketts and Reuben were putting 
the horses in the stable and feeding them Mrs. 
Ricketts was preparing a meal for her husband. 
They thought he would be late, and, as Reuben had 
to return, he and his mother had eaten dinner. 

Mr. Ricketts seemed in a pleasant humor and 
more disposed to talk than ever. 

Just you hold still while I wash, and then Pll 
make your eyes open,” he said, with a merry twinkle 
in his eye. “ The best thing on earth, I reckon, an’ 
no mistake,” he added, as he looked around from 
the roller, where hung the endless towel — a clean 
fresh one put up a moment before for his especial 
use ; water dripping from his nose and chin and 
sparkling in his short stiff hair that stood as he had 
thrust his wet hands through it. “ Roads powerful 
dusty for this time of the year.” 

“ Must be, from the appearance of your clothes,” 
his wife remarked as she handed him his loose 
jacket of blue denim, a garment of which he was 
as fond as any gentleman of his smoking-jacket. 


Finding a Better Way. 


255 


Wall, you might say the whole thing ^fizzled.* 
Lawyers are hard to beat outen their own game. 
It does appear that a law should be passed that no 
more lawyers should grow. They make law against 
Can’da thistles; why not against lawyers? Little 
more sugar, Nancy.” 

“ Well, tell us all about it,” she said, eagerly. 

Haint I ? I have been thinkin’ all way home 
’bout the lawyers. They’re sleek as grease. Reub, 
if you aint goin’ to stick to farmin’, be a lawyer. 
I ’low there’s more money an’ less work in bein’ a 
lawyer than any thing on earth.” 

“ What about Stauffer? Is he in jail?” asked his 
wife. 

“Well, haint I tellin’ you, Nancy? I told you 
’tvvas a long story. Was this here outen that last 
batch o’ chickens? It is as sweet an’ juicy as a 
spare- rib. Well, as I was a-goin’ to say, we got 
there all right, withouten a babble, an’ as it was mid- 
dlin’ airly, an’ Sunday at that, thar was few people 
to stare at us. We driv straight to the jail, but the 
jailer, he says, says he, ‘ I aint no papers, nor nothin’ 
to take them fellers in.’ Then he looks out an’ sees 
Stauffer, an’ he says, ‘ Hallo, Stauffer.’ Stauffer says, 
says he, ‘ Hello ! Come here.’ Then he came out, 
and when he saw the ropes he laughed, and says all 
of a sudden, ‘ I’ll take them fellows without no pa- 
pers.’ ‘Well, the constable he just lets him. Then 


256 


Reuben. 


he onties them and helps ’em out and shakes hands 
and says, ‘What on ’arth, Stauffer, got you here?’ 
Well, I can’t tell you all they said, but we all went 
in the parlor. No cells, no bars, no nothin’ ; jist 
a clean cher’ful lookin’ room. Well, Stauffer he 
acted like wild, when he got the ropes off, an’ shook 
ban’s all roun’. Then he says, says he, ‘ Boys, wait 
'til my lawyer comes, an’ he’ll make it all right.’ 
Then he walked aroun’ the room and stops in front 
of the constable and Sam, and says, says he, ‘ I don’t 
blame you. You just done your duty. Of course, 
you don’t know me.’ Then the jailer he laughs and 
talks with the other man, an’ it seemed like they 
was brothers. Well, the lawyer comes. Lo and 
behold it was Col. Dale — my lawyer! Then he 
shook hands with me — and with Stauffer. I didn’t 
’low he’d do it, but he did. Then Stauffer says, says 
he, ‘ Let me see you a minit.’ Then he and the 
lawyer step out and shut the door, and the jailer 
he never said nothin’ nor lifted a finger. An’ the 
other feller he gets up an’ says perlite-like to the 
jailer, ‘Excuse me.’ The jailer says, ‘ Certainly.’ An’ 
he goes out. Then says I to the constable, ‘ No use 
us a-stayin’ here, if that’s the way thieves and rob- 
bers do in jail.’ Then the constable says, says he, 
‘ Them’s my views.’ An’ we was a-risin’ to go when 
the jailer says, says he, ‘ Hold on, we aint done with 
you yet.’ Then my blood biled, an’ I says, says I, 


Finding a Better Way. 257 

‘‘We bring robbers to you to keep. You turn 
them out an’ keep us.’ Then I sat down an’ he 
laughed, an’ said, ‘ That’s the way we do.’ Then 
I says, ‘The next robber that breaks in my house 
will be buried in the Grove grave-yard.’ Then the 
constable says, says he, ‘ There aint no law for this.’ 
Then my blood was a-bilin’. Stauffer he came in 
a-smilin’, an’ then the other fellow. Then Stauffer 
says, says he to me, ‘ The lawyer wants to see you 
outen than’ Then I went out mighty quick. I 
was a bilin’ hot. The lawyer he was as cool an’ 
nice, and says he, he says — wall, I can’t tell all he 
said. He kept talkin’, and I never got to say a word. 
It was all about a mistake, an’ Stauffer’s family and 
the other fellow’s. Then he says, ‘ You haint got no 
papers a-givin’.you right to do this.’ The parlor 
door was part open an’ 1 heard Stauffer say to the 
constable an’ Sam, ‘ You sha’n’t lose nothing. You 
will get your fees.’ Then they said, ‘That’s all we 
want.’ Then what could I do ? Ev’ry body was on 
Stauffer’s side. Then the jailer says, says he, ‘ I will 
have ’em set your breakfast,’ to Stauffer. He never 
said a word to me that way ! Well, the lawyer says, 
says he, ‘ Stauffer is sorry. He meant it for a joke. 
He’s been tellin’ all ’roun you had his money, an’ 
all that. May be you’d better let it drop.’ ‘ Never,’ 
sez I. Well, says he, he says, ‘ May be you kin kill 

him with kindness. Now,’ he said, ‘You can have 
17 


258 


Reuben. 


the six hundred dollars, if you will drop it now, if 
you will pay his livery hire, pay my fee, and pay 
the constable’s fees.’ Then said I, ‘ What will it all 
be ? ’ Then he says, says he, ‘ My fee is fifty dollars. 
The livery hire is ten dollars ; the constable’s fee 
is small, but you’d better give ’em ten dollars 
apiece, an’ leave twenty dollars for Stauffer, for he 
is strapped, and you will git five hundred dollars.’ 
Well, I didn’t want to, but he argg’ed and argg’ed 
until I gave in. Then I felt better. Stauffer, he 
shook my hand and cried ; yes, he did. He says, says 
he, ‘ I’ll never furgit you.’ I says, says I, ‘ I you, 
nuther.’ Then says he, he says, ‘ My wife’s a good 
woman, an’ she’ll pray for you,’ and he cried hard. 
Well, I said, ‘All right.’ Then the jailer said he had 
some money by him, and he paid the constable and 
Sam, and they went home happy. An’ the lawyer 
give me a check, dated to-morrow, ’cause it aint 
good dated on Sunday, an’ I came home, and here 
I am. Now, how's that?” 

“You have only got your own, Jacob,” said Mrs. 
Ricketts. 

“That’s so, Nancy,” he said; “but think how it 
all came ’round.” 

“ I’m glad it turned out that way,” said Reuben. 

“ Well, you see, when the lawyer told him I had 
given the money to his wife for him, he broke up, 
and said he ‘ ought to be hung for tormentin’ an old 


Finding a Better Way. 259 

man like me wh^n doin^ so much for his people.’ 
Then I broke up, and says I, I says, ‘ May be it will 
do him good.’ But the lawyer, he worked it out, 
and pulls this string and that string until it is done. 
Lawyers are sleek as grease.” 

Reuben had his idea of what his father might do 
for him, now that he was recovering money that was 
counted lost. His father had plans of his own, and 
was very slow about proclaiming them. 

Reuben’s ride back to Shackelford was more de- 
liberate than his gallop homeward, and less annoy- 
ing. He felt that he could return to school with 
improved chances of accomplishing the course of 
study with honor and profit. The visit and his 
long talk with his mother had revived him wonder- 
fully. His father’s willingness to have him return 
was also a source of pleasure ; but the one thing 
that pleased him most was the statement Mr. Rick- 
etts made to his wife in Reuben’s presence, to the 
effect that he had concluded to hire a man to take 
Reuben’s place on the farm. He did not care that 
his father had said immediately afterward that Reu- 
ben would like that better than if he had given him 
money and let his mother do his work. The 
thought uppermost in his mind was that now his 
mother could certainly come to Shackelford to see 
him and to go to church with him. 

Another source of pleasure was the knowledge 


26 o 


Reuben. 


that the Stauffer matter had been so quietly settled. 
As soon as it was over that night Reuben dreaded 
the sensation the news of his exploit would create 
among the boys at school when they heard the 
street talk that would follow Stauffer’s imprison- 
ment. 

The long, hard ride of the night before, with the 
events at home, the day of pleasant but fatiguing 
work about the farm, and his ride back to Shackel- 
ford, made him very weary. Before the church bells 
rang for night service he crawled into bed, and with 
a sigh of relief sank into a sound sleep in the quiet 
home of Mr. Bard. 

As he went to school, next morning, by the merest 
accident he met Miss Jessie at the intersection of 
the streets on which they lived. He had wanted to 
hurry and gain a few minutes of help on a puzzling 
problem in his arithmetic lesson before the assem- 
bly bell should ring ; but he had remained fully ten 
minutes in care of the baby while Mrs. Bard did an 
errand at a neighbor’s. 

He was looking over the question, book in hand, 
as he walked along, and did not see his friend until 
she greeted him as she turned into the street to the 
seminary. 

^ How doth the little busy bee improve each 
shining hour,’” she laughed. 

“Good-morning!” he said, blushing, and stam- 


Finding a Better Way. 261 

mered, “ No; I have wasted my hours and am try- 
ing to make up.” 

“ Did the horse-training break into your study?” 

“ O, no ; but I went home Saturday night.” 

Indeed! How pleasant such a trip must have 
been ! ” she said. 

“ Miss Jessie, when you were talking about Alex- 
ander and his horse I did not know what you meant, 
or I would not have .acted so dull.” 

“ And have you hunted it up ? That shows that 
you are a real student.” 

“ No, but my mother told me.” 

Reuben said this with pride. He wanted Jessie 
to know that his mother was not illiterate. 

“ She knew ; did she?” 

“Yes, indeed! She has told me nearly all T 
know,” Reuben remarked, enthusiastically. 

“ But do you know Beautiful is gone — or, rather, 
is going to-day ? Mr. Thompson bought her. I am 
so sorry,” said Jessie. 

“Yes, I heard he had ; and he bought our Queen 
Saturday. They are a perfect match.” 

“ How queer that you should have trained both 
of them ! I can’t ever forget that afternoon,” said 
Jessie, honestly. 

“ I named our horse,” said Reuben, thinking 
about the team, and not wishing to hear any thing 
further about the training. 


262 


Reuben. 


“Of course,” said Jessie, laughing. “The name 
itself tells that. Queen ! ” 

Reuben had been so busy with his lessons and 
was so engaged in the conversation with Jessie, 
though only the most commonplace things were 
said, that he did not think of the grotesqueness of 
his fine hat and very cheap and ungainly clothing. 
He was forcibly reminded of this, however, as he 
passed over the stile into the play-ground — Jessie 
having passed around to the gate which was set 
apart as the exclusive entrance to the yard for the 
young ladies. 

“ Say, Tim,” called a small boy, “ were you at the 
fire last night?” 

Reuben paused to hear the reply. The boy ad- 
dressed looked about him, to discover the cause of 
the remark, and saw Reuben waiting. 

“Where? At the hat-store?” 

“Yes. They all burned up but one.” 

“How do you know?” yelled the other. 

“ I saw a fellow have it on to-day.” 

He saw then they were guying him. All the 
boys on the grounds joined in the shout of laugh- 
ter that followed him into the house. He won- 
dered what they would say if he should come to 
school in a whole suit if they made so much ado 
over one hat. His determination to get new clothes 
now gave place to a feeling that he would wear an 


Finding a Better Way. 263 

old straw-hat he saw hanging in the wood-shed 
at Mr. Bard’s. His best friends never made any 
remarks about his clothing, and he feared the jeers 
of the small boys on the street and in the play- 
grounds. 

His determination to do this was strengthened 
by the sudden thought, which came to him first as 
he entered the school-house, that he would have to 
return the seven dollars and a half Jim had given 
him to train Beautiful, since she had been sold to 
Mr. Thompson. 

His poor lessons, the jeers of the boys, the loss 
of his seven dollars and a half, the thought that 
he must still sacrifice his pride in wearing his old 
clothes, crowded upon his mind and shut out the 
remembrance of his visit home, of the pleasure of 
Jessie’s warm compliments, expressed more in her 
manner than words, and sent him to his seat, just 
as the assembly bell rang, with any thing but a 
cheerful spirit. 

At the morning intermission he felt better. In 
none of his classes had he been called on to recite, 
and so escaped the humiliation of a failure. He 
was wondering how he could best introduce the 
subject of returning the money to Jim, when that 
youth came with the other boys and said, 

“ The truth is best all the time, Reuben. That 
money I gave you is not for training Beautiful. 


264 


Reuben. 


Father sold her, and now I have to tell you we did 
play a trick on you.” 

Reuben looked at him in perfect astonishment. 
So he had been deceived by Jim ! 

“You see,” said Jim, continuing, “we wanted to 
pay you for taking us to the nutting party, and were 
afraid you would not take it for that ; so I fixed up 
the scheme to break the colt.” 

Reuben looked grieved and did not say any 
thing. 

“ I hope you will forgive us,” said Andrew, “ for 
fooling you. We meant all the time to tell you 
how it was, by and by.” 

“ I don’t mind that,” said Reuben, quickly ; “ but 
you boys thought all the time I paid for that team. 
It didn't cost me any thing. I told Jim, but didn’t 
tell you.” 

“ O,” said Jim, “ they know all about it.” 

“Say,” said Andrew, “boys, let's tell him the 
whole story, and then he’ll know just how it is.” 

Then they explained how they wanted to help 
him, and how they felt sorry for him when he lost 
his money, and how they tried to pay his tuition, 
and why that failed, and how they planned to help 
him without his knowing it was help for fear he 
would think hard of them. 

As they talked Reuben’s soul was stirred within 
him and his heart went out to the boys as it had 


Finding a Better Way. 265 

never done before. The part the principal had in 
all the schemes greatly impressed him. He could 
not resist the thought that there must be something 
behind all this that he could not understand. He 
believed now that their kindness to him was some- 
thing more than merely a friendliness that came 
from their social natures. 

While they were yet talking the principal came 
to them and said to Reuben : 

“A lot of the boys — Jim, here, and Andrew and 
Dan and others — are coming to my house after tea 
to-night. We should like to have you join us. Will 
you be there?” 

‘‘Yes, sir, if y()u want me to,” he answered, and 
immediately was sorry he had promised. 

“ Indeed we do want you. We will look for 
you. Come not later than eight o’clock, but as 
much earlier as you like,” the teacher said. 

Reuben told Mrs. Bard about the invitation and 
his promise to go, and said for once he was going 
to break his word. 

“ Do not do it,” she said, earnestly. “You have 
promised, now keep the promise sacredly though it 
seems a little thing. Your word ought to be as 
good as gold.” 

“ But my clothes ! ” 

“ Go right after school to the store, and Mr. Bard 
will fit you out in plain, nice, and perfectly fitting 


266 


Reuben. 


clothes ; and all you have to do is to go and be 
yourself. You must not falter now. Go right 
ahead, and God will open the way as you advance.” 

“ Do you think he cares about me, or where I 
go?” asked Reuben. 

“ Are not the very hairs of your head numbered ? 
Does he not know when a sparrow falls ? Do you 
not look after the lambs as much as the sheep? 
How about the little chicks that just come off the 
nest?” 

“ We have to see to them because they are little,” 
said Reuben, at the same time catching Mrs. Bard’s 
meaning. 

“ Now that you know all about that ten dollars, 
and the seven dollars is settled, take my advice and 
put yourself in God’s way by going where his peo- 
ple are. Professor Johnson will never ask you to 
go wrong.” 

When Reuben left home that night for his teach- 
er’s home Mrs. Bard followed him to the door, and 
said, as he passed down the steps, 

“ I wish your mother could see you now.” 


A Good Name Better Than Riches. 267 


CHAPTER XX. 

A GOOD NAME IS BETTER THAN GREAT RICHES. 

His work at the seminary getting up the coal, 
his work at Mrs. Bard’s, his trip to the store, his 
lessons for next day, and his getting dressed in a 
new suit, so occupied Reuben’s time that to reach 
the principal’s home not later than eight o’clock 
caused him to hasten after he left Mrs. Bard’s. 

An evening at the principal’s home was so great 
a treat that those who had been there once never 
waited until the last minute, but went as early as 
any regard for the wishes of their host and hostess 
would permit. So Reuben was the last of the ex- 
pected guests. 

Before he arrived the fact that he alone was late 
attracted the attention of all, and he became the 
subject of conversation. 

The evening was pleasantly cool, and the bright 
fire on the grate in the parlor was not only cheer- 
ful in appearance but a comfort as well. The room 
was large, and handsomely furnished. Professor 
Johnson’s study adjoined. It was lighted and looked 
very inviting, being also warmed by a grate. 


268 


Reuben. 


The utmost freedom of speech prevailed. The 
teacher seemed a companion of the boys assembled 
rather than a superior. 

“ Reuben is an enigma to me,” he said, “ though 
I thought I understood boys pretty well.” 

“ What puzzles me,” said Jim, “ is how he comes 
out on top every time, even when things are against 
him. When he first came to school I put him 
down for a ‘ greeny,’ but I liked his looks.” 

“ He must be a poor boy,” said Andrew, “ for he 
works for his board, and works for his tuition, and 
wears such odd-looking clothes. One would think 
they were made for some one else.” 

But he is proud. He wanted to go nutting, but 
I saw he didn’t want to go without paying his share 
of the expense,” said Jim. 

“ I am glad you got that old straw hat away from 
him,” laughed Dan ; “ and you did it without hurt- 
ing his feelings at all.” 

“ My ! but hasn’t he improved since he came 
here,” said Jim. “At first he couldn’t answer a 
simple question without blundering, but now when- 
ever he recites every body listens. He says just 
the right thing in just the right way.” 

“ That is so,” said Andrew. “ I have noticed one 
thing about Mr. Martin. Whenever he has a real 
hard question he asks every pupil in the class. They 
will all shake their heads and say, ‘ Don’t know ; ’ 


A Good Name Better Than Riches. 269 

for after two or three have said they don’t know 
the rest are afraid to say any thing, even if they do 
know, for fear it isn’t right. Then Mr. Martin will 
say, after all have had a chance, ‘Well, Reuben?’ 
And then Reuben stands up and tells all about it, 
just as if he knew it always, and sits down as meek 
as though he hadn’t headed the whole class.” 

“ It amuses me to see how Dave Pingwell clings 
to him,” said Henry. “ And Reuben is never too 
busy with his own lessons to help Dave.” 

“ The beauty of that,” said Professor Johnson, 
“ is that Dave is really learning something since 
Reuben took an interest in him. I believe I ought 
to allow him something for taking Dave off our 
hands.” 

“What I like.” said Mrs. Johnson, “about the 
boy is he seems so honest. Now, many a boy in 
his place would pretend to have better clothes, or 
to know more, or something of that sort ; but if 
he doesn’t know he says so right out.” 

“ I wonder if he would feel hurt if you should 
give him that pair of trousers your brother left 
here. They are as good as new, and just his 
size,” said the teacher, speaking to his wife. 

“ That’s so. I will try to speak to him about it 
when he comes.” 

“ I love to watch him in church,” said Jessie, “ for 
he-” 


2/0 


Reuben. 


“ Now, Jessie,” said the teacher, “ that is a con- 
fession we did not expect to hear.” 

“ Why,” said Jessie, in surprise, “ do you think I 
am above speaking to a poor country boy trying 
to make something of himself? Indeed, he is very 
nice, and always talks sense.” 

“ To be sure,” said the principal. “ That is all 
right, and we agree with you on that. But you said 
you loved to watch him in church.” 

“ Well, so I do,” she persisted, “ for his face is a 
perfect study.” 

“O!” said the boys, in a chorus, catching the 
principal’s spirit of gentle raillery at Jessie for de- 
claring her interest in Reuben. 

“ You needn’t ‘ O,’ ” she said, in mock displeas- 
ure. “ But, as I was going to say, his face is a 
study. He sits thoughtfully waiting for service to 
begin, his eyes downcast and a pallor on his face 
that is usually so ruddy. He makes me think that 
he is studying out some great problem.” 

“ May be he is studying his arithmetic lesson. 
Did you ever see his book ?” suggested Jim. 

“ Now, be still,” she said, shaking her finger at 
him. 

“ Go on,” said the professor. “ I didn’t know 
you were so observing of faces. It’s interesting to 
hear you.” 

“ Well, when the first hymn is announced he lifts 


A Good Name Better Than Riches. 271 

his head and looks at the preacher, as if surprised 
to see him there. As the hymn is read he turns 
his head slightly, as if to hear every word. The 
same way when the lessons are read. But in the 
sermon he is completely in the hands of the 
preacher. No, that is not what I mean ; but he re- 
sponds to the speaker in the change of his face. I 
cannot explain it to you,” she said, looking upon 
the boys with an air of pity, “ but you just watch 
him and see.” 

“ Well, as a matter of fact, I have noticed the 
same thing,” said Mrs. Johnson. 

“ May be he is studying how to regain his lost 
kingdom,” said Jim, looking waggishly at his sister. 

“ How’s that ? That’s something new,” said 
Andrew. 

“ Why, he told Jessie that he was a real prince,” 
said Jim. 

“ O ho ! ” laughed the boys. 

“ Now it is all explained. We thought Jessie 
was sacrificing self to lift up a poor but deserving 
boy,” said Professor Johnson, good-naturedly, “but 
it is the prince that catches her eye.” 

“ Now, that is really mean,” she said. “ He didn’t 
say it that way. We were talking at the picnic 
about traveling. He said he would like to go to 
Europe to see the castles and palaces. I said there 
was enough in our country to see without crossing 


Reuben. 


272 

the ocean. Then he said his mother had taught him 
that his ancestors were royal people. Then I called 
him Prince Reuben, just for fun ; and when he rode 
Beautiful, that none of you boys dared try to ride, 
I said he was Prince Alexander. Indeed, I feel 
sorry for him. There are not many boys that would 
go through what he has without flinching.” 

“ That’s so,” said Andrew, kindly. “ I wouldn’t 
wear that hat to school a week for a crown.” 

“ And think of his coming to Sunday-school and 
church looking different from every body else that 
he goes with I He knows he is odd, and gazed at, 
and he is too smart in every thing else not to know 
he is talked about at home and laughed at by foolish 
people, but every time he is in his place,” said the 
teacher, seriously and earnestly. 

“To hear his praises sung in full measure,” said 
Mrs. Johnson, “ you should call on Mrs. Bard. She 
tells of his good manners, his industry, his sim- 
plicity, his gentleness, and every other good thing 
a boy is supposed to be capable of.” 

“ He seems to be every thing he ought to be ex- 
cept that he is poor and is not an avowed Christian,” 
said Andrew. 

“ I wonder what he is intending to make of him- 
self,” said Henry. 

“Why, a prince — don’t you know?” said Jim, 
trying to tease his sister. 


A Good Name Better Than Riches. 273 

“He is that already,” she answered, quickly, 
“ and—” 

Reuben knocked timidly at the door and stood 
tremblingly waiting for an answer, in his embarrass- 
ment having forgotten the bell. This omission 
added to his fear that he should do something 
awkward. 

Jim quickly responded to the call, and opened the 
door, expecting to find Reuben there — the Reuben 
he knew. Neither the dim light of the hallway nor 
the flickering light from the street-lamp was suffi- 
cient to dispel the darkness of the porch, latticed 
on three sides and covered with creeping vines. 

“Do you wish to see Professor* Johnson ? ” he 
asked of the young man standing in the shadow of 
the door. 

“ He’s invited me here to-night,” said Reuben. 

Jim knew the voice, and drew open the door so 
the hall light fell full in Reuben’s face. 

“ Beg pardon, Reuben, I didn’t know you.” 
Then, as he stepped in the hall and Jim took his 
hat, he also passed his hand over the new coat, 
rubbing the sleeves and smoothing the back, and 
said honestly and kindly, “ A perfect fit, and so 
nice.” 

Reuben was glad he said this. It gave him a 
chance to say what was in his mind : 

“ Mrs. Bard made me come, and she made me buy 
18 


274 


Reuben. 


this new suit. I am not used to any thing so nice 
as this, and feel awkward.” 

“ I always hate to wear a new coat the first 
time,” said Jim. “ I am all the time thinking what 
others are thinking about it.” 

“ Do you ? ” said Reuben, eagerly ; “ and you 
have good clothes all the time.” 

“ Of course. All the boys are that way. You 
needn’t mind. No one here will hurt your feelings, 
no matter what you do or say.” 

“You all are so kind to me anyway,” said Reu- 
ben, warmly. “ I can’t understand why.” 

“ They become you so much. Come, now, they’ll 
think we are not coming in to-night,” said Jim, lead- 
ing the way to the parlor. 

As Reuben stepped into the room Jim said, polite- 
ly: “Ladies and gentlemen, Reuben Ricketts.” 

Instantly Professor Johnson advanced and warmly 
grasped his hand. Mrs. Johnson followed, and then 
Jessie greeted him in a similar manner. The ten 
boys present contented themselves by saying, 

‘ Good-evening,’ and Reuben was seated in their 
midst. There was no awkward pause, as if his 
coming was an interruption, but conversation ran 
briskly forward, and he found himself talking to 
the teacher in a most animated manner about his 
visit home, not alluding, however, to the stirring 
events of Saturday night. 


A Good Name Better Than Riches. 275 

Those present who knew how Reuben was pay- 
ing his tuition and board, and where he got the 
seven dollars, as well as his visit home, guessed that 
his new clothes were the outcome of all that, and 
honored him for making such good use of his op- 
portunity. 

“Can we have some music?” asked the teacher, 
as a lull occurred in the merry conversation. 

Mrs. Johnson arose and went to the piano and 
said, “ Come, Jessie.” She joined Mrs. Johnson and 
together they sang a song that entranced Reuben. 
He had never dreamed of such a musical possibility, 
though, in fact, it was not an extraordinary per- 
formance. Jessie sang an excellent soprano and 
Mrs. Johnson a beautiful alto. Reuben saw now 
why Jessie was there. She had come to assist in 
entertaining the boys. Another song followed, in 
which Professor Johnson sang the bass and Jim the 
tenor. This was better, Reuben thought, than the 
other, and he hoped there would be no end to such 
entertainment. 

“Would you like to look at my books?” said the 
principal to Reuben, and then led the way to the 
study, one side of which was fully occupied by 
shelving on which rested books closely packed. 

“ At these little gatherings.” the principal said, 
finally, after talking to Reuben about the books and 
showing him many curious specimens of ore and 


Reuben. 


276 

rare woods, and some intricate and deftly wrought 
patterns or models, “ before we separate we have 
prayers, and each of the boys that is willing prays. 
I never like to ask a boy to lead in prayer unless I 
know beforehand that he will. Will you?” 

“ Please excuse me,” said Reuben, softly, but 
looking his teacher steadily in the eyes. 

“ Certainly,” he replied, quickly. “ I did not 
want you to feel slighted ; for all the boys who are 
here to-night are in the habit of praying.” 

Then Reuben told his teacher that his mother 
prayed, he believed, though he had never heard 
her. That he often felt that he ought to pray, and 
did sometimes, when alone ; but he could not trust 
himself to pray in public. 

“ Do just as you think best,” said his teacher. 
“ We all understand it, and no one will think any 
less of you if you do not; and you may rest assured 
we will all be rejoiced to have you become one of 
our little praying band.” 

“ Is it a regular band or company?” asked Reu- 
ben, in astonishment. 

“Yes,” said the principal. “I had very much 
trouble in my school with bad boys who would vio- 
late the rules and get others to do so. Finally, 
after every thing else had failed, I got four or five 
boys together and asked them to help me. We 
used to meet every Monday night and talk over the 


A Good Name Better than Riches. 277 

matter. I would get them to be first and most 
willing to obey any new rule, and so on. After a 
while we gradually fell into the habit of praying 
for help from God ; and then we would pray for 
each other ; and then we would pray for the bad 
boys ; and all of the band would do all they could 
to encourage bad boys to be good. This kept on 
until the school improved so much that bad boys 
were the exception. Every body seemed to want 
to be first to keep the rules, and, finally, I abol- 
ished all rules and put the whole school on their 
honor — I mean the higher grades. Well, we liked 
to meet and pray together so much that we kept 
right on as a praying band ; and whenever a new 
boy or girl came in we would pray for them, and 
help them all we could, and make them feel at 
home. After a while, when we saw the new one 
was worthy and could be trusted, we would invite 
him to join the band. Only boys belong. We 
meet every Friday night; but when a new one is 
to be taken in part of the band come to my house, 
as, to-night, and initiate him. If you do not wish 
to join we do not feel hurt or think less of you, 
and we do not cease to try to make you happy.” 

Reuben’s eyes were full of tears — the unfailing 
sign that he was deeply affected. The principal 
ceased speaking after noting the struggling emo- 
tion that shook Reuben s heart. 


2/8 


Reuben. 


“ We have no rules, constitution, or by-laws, ex- 
cept the teachings of the Master. For his sake we 
esteem every one a brother ; and the more needy 
any one is, the greater desire we have to help them. 
The rich and the poor alike join our band, but no 
one is admitted to our confidence and private meet- 
ings unless he shows himself worthy. We have 
been watching you since you came here, and are 
really anxious to have you join us if you feel free 
to do so.” 

“What must I do to become a member?” 

“ Nothing. We have by vote agreed to ask you 
to join us. If you consent you are expected to be 
on the lookout to help those who may need your 
sympathy. In our prayer-meetings all are expected 
to pray aloud if called on, or voluntarily at other 
times.” 

As Reuben still hesitated Professor Johnson said, 
“ Do not feel urged to decide to-night ; you may 
think about it and let me know any time.” 

“ I feel so much the need of help, I cannot tell 
how I can help others.” 

“You have already helped us,” said the teacher, 
warmly. “We have seen how ready you were to 
do any favor. You have been so kind to Dave 
Pingwell that even the boys have noticed it and the 
teachers speak of it.” 

“ Well, every body is so kind to me I can afford 


A Good Name Better than Riches. 279 

to be kind to him,” said Reuben. “ But I never 
could tell why I was treated so well.” 

“You see now why the boys were so kind to you 
at the start. Sometimes they may have seemed 
rude, for they are boys still and will make mistakes. 
At first they were kind to you because the Master 
had been kind to them. Just as you have been kind 
to Dave because they were kind to you.” 

“ O, I see ! ” said Reuben, as a glimpse of the far- 
reaching plan was given him. 

“ I know you will be benefited and will also ben- 
efit the boys.” 

“You may put me down,” said Reuben, firmly, 
and a shadow passed over his face as he felt that 
this was enlisting, so far as he was concerned, for 
life in the service of the Prince of Peace. Since he 
listened to that sermon, the first Sunday in Shackel- 
ford, he wanted to feel that he had joined the army 
the minister mentioned as waging a relentless 
but silent and loving warfare against evil in every 
shape. 

While they had been talking the rest of the com- 
pany were being entertained by Mrs. Johnson and 
Jessie in the parlor. 

“ They will think we have deserted them,” said 
Professor Johnson, pushing back the heavy curtain 
which he had drawn across the open door-way as 
they entered the study. 


28o 


Reuben. 


Reuben rejoined the happy company with a less 
cheerful heart than when he came there that night. 
He felt that the obligations he had assumed pledged 
him to a work for which he was not fully prepared. 
Nor did he feel any better when all the boys uttered 
a short prayer; each praying in turn before they sep- 
arated, while he alone remained mute. He counted 
that as a failure — a sign of cowardice. 

In the confusion of getting ready to leave, after a 
luncheon of oranges and cake, Jessie made it con- 
venient to get near Reuben and say, “ I am so glad 
for you ! ” looking unmistakably at his clothing, and 
added, with a laugh, “ A fit for a king ! 

Could she have looked ahead and seen what was 
to occur before long she would have been less famil- 
iar in her remarks. In the goodness of her heart 
she was carrying out her cherished plan of being an 
unfailing friend of a poor struggling country lad. 


The Child of a King. 


281 


CHAPTER XXI. 

THE CHILD OF A KING. 

The days and weeks glided swiftly by. Reuben 
was developing a wonderful talent for learning. 
He was not content to learn the prescribed lessons 
for the classes, which were assigned with reference 
to the ability of the average pupil. He found a 
ready and able assistant in Mrs. Bard. The rapidity 
with which he advanced astonished his teachers and 
delighted his friends among the pupils. It was not 
due simply to his bright mind and quick under- 
standing, but to his unwearied study. He was 
never so happy as when mastering some new truth. 
The work he had to do for his board and at the 
seminary gave him the out-door exercise that was 
needed to balance the brain work he did. 

He was not slow to learn all the ways of polite 
society; and though he made many mistakes, he so 
persisted in his endeavors to be at ease in any com- 
pany that he became a favorite on account of his 
evitlent intention to offend no one. 

He blundered in some of the simplest things; 
and a less courageous young man would have given 


282 


Reuben. 


up in despair and dropped to boorish manners and 
offensive indifference to the requirements of eti- 
quette. 

When he first took tea with Jim at his house he 
was sorely perplexed, and feared he would be guilty 
of some breach of manners. His fear rendered his 
liability to such an act much greater, and he failed. 

At Reuben’s home, and also at Mrs. Bard’s, when 
flannel cakes were served they came, hot and singly, 
direct from the griddle to the plate of the person 
served. At Dr. McGrew’s, that afternoon, they 
were served on small plates set by the side of those 
at the tabje. Reuben was honored by being first 
served in this manner. He removed the top cake 
with his knife and passed the remainder to the one 
next him. 

Dr. McGrew saw the movement and kindly said, 
looking at his guest over his glasses, 

“They are all for you — all for you !” 

Reuben corrected his mistake, so trivial in itself 
and yet so grave in his eyes, and with a struggle re- 
pressed his shame. With the greatest difficulty he 
regained his composure, and, watching others, dis- 
posed of the cakes as they did. At the close of the 
meal a very delicate preserve did duty as dessert. 
This was to be accompanied by a wafer-like sweet 
biscuit. The plate on which a half dozen were 
placed was handed to Reuben. He remembered 


The Child of a King. 283 

his former blunder and profited by his experience. 
• He slipped the whole lot off on his own plate and 
returned the empty plate to the servant. The rest 
of the company ate their preserves without biscuits, 
while Reuben burned as in a furnace when he no- 
ticed his mistake in not taking one and permitting 
the others to be handed to the rest of those pres- 
ent. Nothing was said, by either guest or host, of 
this mistake. The host and his family quickly for- 
got the incident ; but Reuben treasured it as a 
warning against too much self-confidence. 

But he never gave up. To Mrs. Bard he reported 
all his frailties and failures. She was ready with 
-advice and consolation, furnishing both a balm and 
a tonic for his wounded spirits. But for these 
things — his mistakes and failures in minor matters 
— he might have been so puffed up as to be spoiled 
for the career opening before him. In the difficult 
tasks he always succeeded. 

Thanksgiving day had come. Mrs. Bard and her 
husband were to dine at her mother’s. Reuben was 
to go to Dr. McGrew’s. He and Jim had become 
inseparable. 

Reuben was not satisfied. He was doing well in 
school ; he attended regularly the meetings of the 
praying band ; he went every Sunday to the Sun- 
day-school and church services. But he was full 
of unrest. Before he got better clothes he thought 


284 


Reuben. 


the want of them made him unhappy. When he 
got them he thought it was because he did not 
get along faster in school. He did not know how 
long he might stay there, and was anxious to push 
ahead. After he began to study harder, and learn 
easier, and leave his classes far behind, he thought 
it was because his father did not really want him 
to be away from home. When his mother came 
to town and spent Sunday with him, and said his 
father was perfectly content to let him stay as long 
as he pleased so he paid his own expenses, he 
thought he was unhappy because he did not have 
the sympathy and help from home that other boys 
had. 

He did not show any of this unrest. Instead, he 
was outwardly very cheerful, and was a welcome 
member of any gathering of his associates. 

“ What are you most thankful for to-day. Miss 
Jessie.^” he asked, as they happened to be left 
alone in the parlor while dinner was preparing. 

“ Well, let me see,” she said, gayly, but assuming 
a thoughtful air. “ Must I tell you the truth, the 
whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” 

“ I should like you to tell me nothing but the 
truth, but not the ‘whole truth,’ unless you are 
mind to.” 

“ Well, I have so many things to be thankful for 
that I can scarcely say which is best. But, truly, 


The Child of a King. 285 

in my very heart of heart I am most thankful that 
I am the child of a King.” 

“ Now, Miss Jessie, I thought you had promised 
to quit teasing me about that. I know you are 
making fun of me for saying what I did.” 

Indeed, I am in earnest,” she said ; “but I am 
not talking about any earthly king. And do you 
know that ever since that day in the woods I have 
been wanting to tell you that you can really and 
truly be a child of a King?” 

“ I know you said so then, but I thought it was 
just to amuse me.” 

“ No, indeed. The thought has grown upon me 
ever since. Do you not remember how many 
times I have spoken to you as a prince ? ” 

“ Yes ; but always in fun,” he said. 

“ No ; not only not ‘ always in fun,’ but never in 
fun — always in earnest.” 

“ I will not pretend to misunderstand you. I 
know what you mean now. But all along I thought 
you had reference to the tradition in our family.” 

“ Can you stand it to have me talk seriously to 
you about the King of kings — the King of heaven 
and earth ? ” 

“ Indeed I can. I am much interested in that 
subject.” 

“ Well, then, I am not going to talk to you about 
being good ; for now this is downright truth I 


286 


Reuben. 


think you are about as good a boy as I know. I 
really do.” 

“ Please leave that out,” said Reuben. 

“ I cannot, unless I leave you out,” she said. “ I 
am not going to talk to you about improving you-r 
time and training your mind. You do that now.” 

“ I am trying to,” said Reuben, sincerely. 

'' “ Now I tell you that ever since that day I have felt 

sorry for you ; and I have guessed that you are not 
happy. I say so, for at times you look unhappy. 
Now, I have noticed you look unhappiest just be- 
fore church service, and the happiest in the midst 
of a sermon telling of heavenly delights.” 

‘‘Can you read thoughts like that?” said Reu- 
ben, in surprise ; “ for that is the way I feel.” 

“ Now I want to tell you, I am never unhappy ! ” 

“ Why should you be ?” said Reuben. 

“ That’s it. Why should I be ? And why should 
you be ? We are both situated alike, only that you 
have the advantage. You can do things — noble 
things — for yourself and others. I can just sit by 
and watch and cheer.” 

“ Isn’t it something to cheer? I think it is,” said 
Reuben. “ Do you know that the cheers of the 
boys and the glimpse I got of your handkerchief 
kept me on Beautiful’s back that day. I was tired 
out, and thought I must drop off just as they 
cheered and I saw your handkerchief. Then I said, 


The Child of a King. 287 

‘ Here goes for another round,’ and the next time 
I gained the day — accidentally.” 

Jessie blushed under this plain and honest state- 
ment of appreciation of her efforts to help him. 
It encouraged her to say on. 

“ Well, I was saying, I am happy always. Of 
course, in some things we are different. My father 
is rich and gives me every thing. Your father can’t. 
But I think if father had not a cent, and I had to 
work hard for a living, I should yet be happy— just 
as happy as I am now.” 

“ I should like to know your secret,” said Reuben, 
eagerly. 

“ It is no secret. Great and good men, like Paul 
and Peter, have been happy in prison, in terrible 
scourgings, in shipwrecks, in dreadful deaths, and 
why may not I with only a little hardship ? ” 

“ What can I do to have that happiness ?” 

“ Nothing more than you are doing now. Keep 
all that up just as now, but cast all your care upon 
God, for he careth for you.” 

“ I cannot do that. I do not know how,” said 
Reuben. 

“ Now, what worries you most is what you can- 
not help ; isn’t it?” 

“ Yes ; I believe so. What I can change I go and 
change,” he said. 

“ Well, why worry about what you cannot help ? ” 


288 


Reuben. 


“ What shall I do when things are not as I would 
wish?" 

“ Just believe that God knows best, and will make 
every thing to suit himself; which is better than 
that it should suit you only." 

“ Miss Jessie, I believe all you say. I want to be 
a true follower of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. If I 
knew he had accepted me as his servant I believe 
I would be happy — whatever my lot in life.” 

“ O, I know you would be,” she said, gladly. 

“ How can I know this ? I have thought other 
things would make me happy. Once I thought if I 
should be assured that I was, without doubt, a de- 
scendant of a royal family I could hold my head up 
and be brave, whatever other people thought of 
me. But now I do not care for that." 

“ O, Reuben, how glad I am to hear you say 
that ! " 

“ But how can I know, as you say you do, that I 
am a child of a King? ” 

“ I will tell you how I know," she said. “ Per- 
haps you can tell in the same way." 

“ That is what I want to know," he said. 

“ The Scripture says, ‘ The Spirit itself beareth 
witness with our spirit, that we are the children of 
God : and if children, then heirs ; heirs of God, and 
joint heirs with Christ.* Now that is only a little 
of what is said on that subject. You ought to 


The Child of a King. 289 

read the whole chapter. It is the eighth of 
Romans.” 

“ But that tells how the Spirit tells our spirit that 
we are the sons, but it does not — ” Here Reuben 
stopped. 

“ Say on,” said Jessie, eagerly. 

“ I was going to say, How does the Spirit know.^^ 
But now I see. Suddenly, while I was speaking 
my doubt, I saw how there was no ground for 
doubt. The Spirit of God tells the spirit of man 
he is a child of God! What could be clearer? 
What could I ask more ? God tells you ! Is that 
it. Miss Jessie ?” 

That is it exactly. Who knows better than 
God whether he accepts our offering ? Who could 
tell us better than he ? There is no intermediate 
agent. God speaks, and the spirit hears ! ” 

“ But is there nothing to be done before the 
Spirit speaks to us?” 

“Yes; believe Jesus is the Son of God, for the 
Scriptures say, ‘ But as many as received him, to 
them gave he power to become the sons of God, 
even to them that believe on his name.’ John says 
that in the first chapter of his gospel. Do you see 
how easy ?” 

“ I believe I do,” said Reuben, thoughtfully, but 
with a sense of joyfulness at the simplicity of the 

plan. 

19 


290 


Reuben. 


“See how easy,” said Jessie. “When you be- 
lieve on Jesus you have the power to become a son 
of God ; that is, the right to be one. Then, with 
this right, you ask God to accept you for Jesus 
sake, and he tells you you are accepted. Then you 
know you are his, and go along rejoicing, claiming 
all the good things he promises to his children.” 

“ That seems too good to be true,” said Reuben, 
with emotion. 

“And it will seem better and better all the way,” 
said Jessie, warmly. Now, Reuben, I have watched 
you, and have felt all along that you were a real 
prince, and didn’t know it. I wanted to show you 
how you could know it, so you could be happy as 
well as good ! ” 

What more would have been said if dinner had 
not been announced was said at other times. Reu- 
ben, with his usual quickness to perceive, caught 
the truth of the passages Jessie quoted, and he re- 
lied upon them and was happy. Every thing 
changed. He looked upon himself as no longer his 
own, but as belonging to God, to be used by him 
as he willed. The sunlight was brighter, because it 
came from God for the benefit of his children. 
Storm and tempest were grander, because they rep- 
resented, though feebly, the power of Him whom 
he served. All people now became to him as worth 
infinitely more than thought could grasp, for they 


The Child of a King. 


291 


were worth the attention and care of Jehovah, and 
more — they were worth the price of Heaven’s best 
gift, the Saviour. His mother seemed dearer than 
ever before, and he had a tender solicitude for his 
father that he could not express in words. He re- 
membered how he had toiled to accumulate earthly 
wealth, and had not yet obtained a title to man- 
sions in heaven. Reuben studied harder than ever, 
not only to feast upon the sweets of knowledge, 
but to prepare himself for more acceptably serving 
his Master. 

Dave,” said Reuben, one night, as they rested 
on the edge of the coal-bin upstairs after it had been 
refilled, “ what makes you come and help me carry 
coal? You said once you wouldn’t speak to any 
one who did this for his tuition.” 

“ But I didn’t know you were going to do it,” 
said Dave, with a faint tinge of shame in his voice. 

“ Well, what if I do it ? Why do you help me 
when you don’t have to ? ” 

What makes you help me when you don’t have 
to?” said Dave, with a smile which seemed to say. 
Answer me and you are answered. 

Because you needed help, and I could give you 
what you needed.” 

Well,” said Dave, seeing that that answer 
wouldn’t do for him, “you don’t need me to help 
you for you are a heap stouter than I am. But you 


292 


Reuben. 


helped me first, and I kind o’ like to help you, for 
that helps me.” 

Didn’t any body help you before I came?” 

“Yes; I always got some one to help, but they 
always got tired and said, ‘ Go to somebody else.’ 
You never said that once yet.” 

“ Then you mean you like me because I stick to 
you ? ” 

“Yes; and because you never tell me mean 
things. I am bad, and always was, but I don’t want 
to be. If I get through a whole day without a bad 
thing I go to bed and sleep like a king; but ’most 
every day I get off somewhere and then I think 
about it. Other boys — some, I mean — get me to 
be bad because I do it so easy, and then they laugh 
at me for it.” 

“ Well, Dave, I can’t help you much. I can’t be 
with you all the time. But I have a Friend who 
can. Would you like to know him ?” 

“ No, I guess not; you are good enough for me. 
You aint getting tired of me, too, are you, and go- 
ing to give me the shake ? ” asked Dave, sorrow- 
fully. 

“ O no. m never give you the shake, Dave. I 
might have once, but not now ; never! ” 

“ Well, you said your Friend could help me more 
than you could, and I thought you wanted to get 
rid of me.” 


The Child of a King. 


293 

O no. I will be plain with you. My Friend is 
. the Lord Jesus. Did you ever hear of him ? ” 

“ Pshaw ! yes, but I haven't much opinion of any 
friend like that." 

“ Because you do not know him. Do you ? " 

“ No ; what can he do ? " 

“ Every thing. Can make you good and keep 
you good, so you will sleep easy, not one night now 
and then, but every night." 

“ Well, you never lied to me yet, and I believe 
you ; but how can he ? " 

“ Easy enough. He will make you want to do 
good more than you want to do bad. You always 
do what you want to most. You come here and 
help me because you want to do that more than you 
want to go home. Do you see ? " 

‘‘ Yes, of course I do. I see that, for that is just 
as it is." 

“ How do you get me to help you on your les- 
sons ? By asking me, of course. Now, if you want 
Jesus to help you do good, you ask him. No one 
need hear you. No one need know you asked for 
help. But if you will ask, and believe he will hear, 
you will find help coming to you. Then, when you 
have done good where you used to do bad, people 
will know you asked Jesus to help, but you wont 
care then." 

“ That seems easy," said Dave, musingly. 


294 


Reuben. 


“ Will you let me ask him to hear you when you 
call ? " 

“Yes; you can do what you please,” said Dave, 
with some show of interest. 

“ Then we will kneel here.” 

They both knelt in the deepening twilight, that 
winter night, beside the coal-bin in the old semi- 
nary. Reuben prayed as one acquainted with the 
Saviour. His words were few and simple. 

“ Now, Dave, remember I am never going back 
on you. I have asked Jesus to be your Friend as 
he is mine. Whenever you think of me think of 
him, and when I am not near, call on him.” 

“ Hello! Reuben,” said Professor Johnson, com- 
ing into the seminary for some forgotten article just 
as Reuben and Dave were leaving, “ I have some 
good news for you. Come down after supper and 
we will talk it over.” 


The Dawning of a Better Day. 295 


CHAPTER XXII. 

THE DAWNING OF A BETTER DAY. 

Reuben had learned to love a visit at the princi- 
pal’s home, and he gladly complied with his request 
to call there after tea — wondering, the meantime, 
what the good news could be to which he had re- 
ferred. 

“ Well,” said the principal, after the usual for- 
malities of call were passed, ‘‘ I do not know which 
to admire most : your industry or your modesty, 
your patient endurance or your noble purpose to 
wrest victory from defeat.” 

“ I do not understand you,” said Reuben. 

“ Well, I had business at Colonel Dale’s office 
*^this afternoon, after school, and found he had just 
returned from the country, where he had gone to 
attend a little trial in a justice’s office.” Here the 
principal paused to see if Reuben guessed his pur- 
pose in telling him that. But as he gave no sign 
of anticipating his remarks he continued : He was 
at your father’s house for dinner.” 

“ Was he ? And did he say any thing about 
mother? How is every thing there?” 


296 


Reuben. 


“ All well, I am sure, though he did not say. But 
he brought me this package to be given you. I 
know what is in it, for the colonel told me. You 
open it and see for yourself.” 

Reuben untied and unwrapped the small package, 
and there unrolled into his hand a lot of bank-bills. 
Instantly his heart beat violently, and only by com- 
pressing his lips and struggling manfully could he 
restrain his overpowering emotion. He looked up 
into his teacher’s radiant face and said just one 
word : 

Mother? ” 

“ No,” said Mr. Johnson ; “your father.” 

“ My father ! ” said Reuben, and, bowing his head 
upon the teacher’s desk in the privacy of his study, 
he gave vent to his pent-up feelings, the tears of 
thankfulness pouring like rain-drops down his 
cheeks. 

His teacher laid his hand gently on his bowed 
head and talked to him as he wept, not seeking in 
any way to check this manifestation of his joy and 
gratitude. 

“ Never mind, my boy. I know all about it. 
Your father told Colonel Dale how he had sent you 
away without a cent to fight your battle alone ; how 
you had accepted the hard terms he proposed for 
your education, and how he had finally surrendered, 
conquered by your affectionate regard for him in 


The Dawning of a Better Day. 297 

the midst of his harsh treatment ; and now he sends 
you this one hundred dollars as a token that his 
heart has changed, and he wants you to continue 
your studies unfettered by care for board, clothes, 
or tuition.” 

Reuben looked up, laughing in the midst of his 
tears : 

“ I am so glad he approves my course, but I 
do not deserve this. I can get along. He might 
need it.” 

“ Now, see here,” said the principal : “ how is it 
you never told us about your wild ride, and how you 
saved your father from loss, and really in the out- 
come restored to him what he had lost by foolish 
speculation ? That was a noble deed bravely done.” 

“ How could I tell you that,” said Reuben, “ and 
not tell of father’s turning me away to work out my 
education? and I did not want to do that! ” 

“I see,” said Mr. Johnson. “Your course was 
thoroughly consistent with your character.” 

“ Did I do wrong in not telling you ? ” 

“ Certainly not ; certainly not ; but we should all 
have been glad to know you had acted so promptly 
and bravely. Your father's treatment of Stauffer 
was certainly best. The colonel says he really be- 
lieves it has had a reforming effect on Stauffer ; at 
any rate, your father has made two good friends of 
those men.” 


298 


Reuben. 


“ Shall I not keep on carrying the coal? or would 
you rather I would pay you the money ? ” 

“ You need not pay me any money for this term’s 
schooling. I guess you would better let some one 
else carry the coal.” 

“ Well, I do not mind the work, but I would like 
to have that time for outside study if you can get 
it done without trouble to you. I will pay the one 
you hire — for it is my work.” 

“ Very well ; that will be best, and the right thing 
to do. But let me ask you : Colonel Dale says he 
was surprised to find your father living on so fine a 
farm. Is it his?” 

“ O, yes,” said Reuben, brightly, recalling all the 
familiar scenes of the dear home-place. “ It is 
all his. He entered part of the land as a home- 
stead before he was married. Then he and mother 
lived there ten years before I was born, and they 
worked hard and kept buying land with what they 
saved, turning out to pasture all except what father 
could farm with one helper, and on the pasture 
they put cattle and hogs. After I got big enough 
to work father did not keep any hand, so we worked, 
and saved, and bought land. Last year father sold 
a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, so he would 
have just an even thousand acres left.” 

A thousand acres ! ” exclaimed the principal, in 
astonishment. “ A farm of a thousand acres ! ” 


The Dawning of a Better Day. 299 

“Yes,” said Reuben, smiling quietly, “that is 
what he has now, but it has taken him more than 
thirty-five years to get it.” 

“ And how many children are there ? ” said his 
teacher, settling back in his chair and eyeing Reu- 
ben curiously. 

“ Me ; I am his only child.” 

“ The only child of a father worth fifty thousand 
dollars working his way through school ! ” said the 
principal. “ If I did not know you I would say you 
are a fraud,” he added, laughing. 

“ Why not ? ” said Reuben. “ Father has always 
worked hard ; and I expected to have to do so 
too.” 

“ So all your father told Colonel Dale, about cut- 
ting you off without a cent because you wanted an 
education, is true ” 

“Yes,” said Reuben; “but father did not intend 
to be mean. He thought that was a foolish thing 
to do, because he never had any ‘ book learning,’ as 
he calls it.” 

“ Did your mother?” asked his teacher. 

“Mother! ” said Reuben, his eyes sparkling with 
love and delight. “ She was graduated the year she 
was married, and came West when it was a wilder- 
ness. She has taught me all I know. I went to 
school a little in the winter, but it was so crowded 
and noisy I did not learn much. Mother made me 


300 


Reuben. 


think I was a prince, and stirred me up to get an 
education and show that I was worthy my distinc- 
tion/' 

A prince ? What do you mean by that ? ” 

“ Why, it was a tradition in our family that they 
are descendants of kings — my mother’s family, I 
mean. That is all,” said Reuben, not caring to 
talk about the pleasant fancy that had served its 
purpose when it pushed him out into the world to 
conquer a place for himself. 

“ Well,” said his teacher, warmly, “ if any one 
ever disputes your claim to a crown send him to 
me and I will show him your coat of arms — a coal- 
bin with coal-hods rampant, with Dave in the back- 
ground with trident and spear!” 

“ I am not looking for any crown here,” said 
Reuben, softly. “ If I can get one up there I will 
be satisfied.” 

“ God bless your pure soul ! ” said Professor John- 
son ; “ you deserve a thickly studded one, for you 
are a constant inspiration ! ” 

“Think what I have gained by coming here to 
school. I do not regret any thing that has oc- 
curred, except my blunders and my — my deceiving 
you.” 

“ Do not mention that. And even your mistakes 
have been profitable. How can we improve except 
by correcting mistakes, and how can we correct 


The Dawning of a Better Day. 301 

them unless we discover them?” said Mr. Johnson, 
encouragingly. 

“ I have been here now nearly five months. It 
seems like five years, when I look back to the day 
I met you in the post-office.” 

“Well, you have made wonderful progress, but 
it is because you had had wonderful preparation, 
surely. I should like to know your mother.” 

“ I wish you could,” said Reuben. 

“ When I tell the boys that you are not poor, as 
they have all along supposed, what will they think ?” 
said the principal, picturing in his mind the chagrin 
of some who had always treated Reuben shabbily, 
and the surprise and delight of Jim, Andrew, Dan, 
and Henry, who had stood by him at first because 
he was a lonely stranger, and at last because he 
was so companionable. 

“ Please do not tell them,” pleaded Reuben. “ I 
would rather have every thing just as it is.” 

“ O, but I must ! ” said his teacher. “ I enjoy 
seeing some folks taken down a peg or two.” 

“ Well, I am no better — am I ? — because father has 
concluded to recognize me as his son, or no worse.” 

“Not a bit — not a bit. But, from what Colonel 
Dale says, your father, I judge, means to supply all 
your needs, and of course you can be more than 
you felt free to assume before.” 

“ I wonder what Dave will say,” mused Reuben. 


302 


Reuben. 


“ Poor fellow, I feel sorry for him. He tries so 
hard to be good ! ” 

“ And is succeeding finely. He is a changed 
boy. Just to think that Dave Pingwell actually 
goes to Sunday-school and is one of the librarians ! 
I can never cease to be surprised at that ! ” ex- 
claimed the principal. 

“ It surprised me when he said he would go the 
first time, and every Sunday I am surprised to find 
him still there,” said Reuben. 

“ But I must let you into a little secret,” said his 
teacher. “ There is one of your friends who is the 
most punctillious person you ever knew about ob- 
serving all the rules of proper deportment, and goes 
to the extreme in her maintenance of maidenly re- 
serve in all her intercourse except with most inti- 
mate acquaintances, but with you from the start 
she has acted with utmost freedom. Well, we have 
gently twitted her about it, and she has always said 
that the difference between the social position of 
her family and yours was so great that she felt safe 
in putting aside all formality and coming direct to 
you that she might help you to rise. When she 
knows that you are not a poor country boy, but an 
heir to as much as all her father’s wealth, she will 
die, almost, of mortification.” 

And Professor Johnson looked the regret that he 
felt at this turn in affairs. 


The Dawning of a Better Day. 303 

‘‘Please, then,” said Reuben, “do not say any 
thing about the matter to any one. I should be 
grieved to know her feelings are hurt, for she first 
showed me how to know that I am a child of 
God.” 

The principal shook his head and said : “ This is 
a good deal like murder ; it will come out. Colonel 
Dale is busily circulating the story, for he has been 
an anxious inquirer after your progress.” 

Before Reuben went away that night Mrs. John- 
son was called in and made acquainted with the 
story of his life, and she warmly congratulated him 
on the change of his father’s mind. When Reuben 
was gone she said to her husband : 

“You men are so cruel. What did you tell him 
that about Jessie for? Didn’t you see how it 
made him feel? He has supposed all along that 
he was really something worthy of her help and at- 
tention. Now he knows he was but the object of 
Jessie’s interest as Dave Pingwell was the object of 
his care.” 

“ Well, what harm can come of his knowing the 
truth?” 

“ No harm at all ; but why teat down the castle 
about his head as by a cyclone, when it would have 
dropped to pieces gracefully with the drift of years ?” 
she replied. 

“ Well, I have an idea that she will be more hurt 


304 


Reuben. 


than he, for you know how sensitive she is to any 
suspicion of forwardness.” 

“ But that aside ; mark my word, that boy will 
be heard from yet in. this world, and not as a far- 
mer, either; though that is an honorable business, 
I am sure,” his wife said. 

“ What business would you guess he will fol- 
low?” asked Professor Johnson. 

“ When he comes to make a selection he will 
choose that profession where he can do the most 
good to the greatest number of people in a simple 
and unostentatious manner,” she said. 

“ I believe it. I never knew one so young to be 
so imbued with the spirit of the Master,” said 
Professor Johnson. 

“ And there is the key ! ” she exclaimed. “ It 
has just occurred to me, without knowing what 
Reuben’s feelings are about the matter. What you 
have just said points out his life-work clearly to 

t 

me ! 

“ I do not understand. A preacher?” 

“ No ; the Master went about doing good, preach- 
ing, teaching, and healing all manner of sick,” said 
Mrs. Johnson, with a face radiant with a conscious- 
ness of having discovered a sphere for Reuben’s 
talents. 

“ A physician ? ” asked her husband. 

“A physician,” she said, soberly. “Don’t you 


The Dawning of a Better Day. 305 

see how that will give scope to his genius, how it 
will furnish a field for his industry in ferreting out 
truths long unknown, how he can minister to the 
needy both spiritual and physical medicines?” 

“I see,” said her husband. “You are a proph- 
etess, I believe. He has abundant means for tak- 
ing him through a most thorough course. He has 
the gentleness that will attract and hold the 
afflicted of every class. He has the firmness that 
will keep him in the path of right. He has the 
courage of his convictions, and will preach at every 
bedside, and if he cannot restore the body he will 
direct the soul to the great Physician who can heal 
all its wounds. What a grand opening for such as 
he is.” 

“ Has he ever hinted at what he would do ? ” 

“ O, no ; until to-night he did not even know 
that he could return to school next term. He 
meant to do just as his father should command. 
He hoped to come back, but was not sure he 
could.” 

“ Will you suggest the study of medicine to 
him ? ” she asked. 

“ No ; if he should ask my advice I would most 
certainly give it in that line, but I will not mention 
it first. It might overturn, or at least unsettle, 
some conviction of his own,” he said. 

“Well, there is time enough. He will not be 
20 


3o6 


Reuben. 


ready for college for a year yet. It will take him 
five years after that to complete his studies for any 
profession," she remarked, thoughtfully. 

When Reuben told Mrs. Bard of his interview 
with Professor Johnson, as he told her all his joys 
and sorrows, she was extravagant in her expressions 
of surprise and delight. 

“ Our Reuben is gone," she said to Mr. Bard, as 
he came in late, Reuben having stepped into the 
kitchen for the coal to replenish the fire, that had 
burned low as it was forgotten in the interest of 
what Reuben had had to say. 

“Gone!” he exclaimed. “ Not far, I hope." 

“Yes ; gone so far he will never come back.” 

Mr. Bard stood in the middle of the floor, his 
overcoat in his hands, looking at his wife with a 
puzzled expression on his face. Just then Reuben 
came in with the coal-hod. 

“How you scared me!” Mr. Bard said to his 
wife, as he turned to hang up the coat. 

“ O, that is not our Reuben,” she said, with 
arched brows. 

“Where is he, then?" said her husband, turning 
Reuben about to look in his face. 

“ That is a rich young man who has come to take 
Reuben’s place a little while." 

Then the story was told again, with many protests 
from the hero of the narrative. 


The Dawning of a Better Day. 307 

“You scamp!” said Mr. Bard. “Having all of 
us breaking our hearts over your hardships when 
you are able to buy and sell us a dozen times at a 
fifty per cent, loss every time 1 ” 

“ It was none of my doings,” said Reuben. “ I 
should have preferred a different course, but God 
knew better than any of us what I needed.” 

There was a loud rap at the door, accompanied 
by a vigorous ring of the door-bell. Mr. Bard an- 
swered the summons. 

“ I thought you were all asleep. Father has been 
taken suddenly sick. Come over and help us 1” said 
Jim McGrew, in tones of despair that sent a shudder 
to the hearts of the happy family circle. 

“ Come with me, Reub,” said Mr. Bard, as he 
seized* his overcoat and sprang out the front door. 
Reuben outran him and overtook Jim as he flew 
along the icy walk. 

When morning dawned the unfavorable symp- 
toms had disappeared in response to the skill of the 
attendant physician and the careful nursing of the 
family, and Dr. McGrew was pronounced out of 
danger for the present. 

Reuben and Jim had together watched and 
worked through the night, following the directions 
of Jessie and her mother. When the doctor rested 
quietly and slept peacefully the boys insisted on 


3o8 


Reuben. 


being left in charge while Mrs. McGrew and Jessie 
sought much-needed refreshment in sleep. 

Leaving the patient, they withdrew to an adjoin- 
ing room and talked in low tones of many things, 
but of their own plans especially. 

“ What will you be, do you think? ” 

This question was put to Reuben by his friend so 
bluntly, yet so kindly, and with such apparent con- 
cern as to what the answer would be, that he could 
not reply evasively or indefinitely. He hesitated 
only a moment. 

“ You will be surprised,” Reuben said, blushing 
slightly, “ and will perhaps think I am aiming too 
high, or will think I am not sincere, but really I have 
a stronger desire to study medicine than any thing 
else.” 

“ Good ! That is just what I wanted you to say. 
It may be because I am to take that course myself, 
but anyway I have felt for some time I should like 
you to choose that profession.” 

“ And so you have really decided ? ” 

“Yes; only a day or two ago I finally settled on 
that. Father wanted me to, and I like it myself.” 

“ But you commence now, don’t you ? ” 

“ Yes ; I will finish the seminary course this year, 
and will take up the other at once.” 

“ I wish I was ready to commence with you ! 
As it is, though, I cannot begin medicine for two 


The Dawning of a Better Day. 309 

years or more — not until I get through the seminary, 
if I ever do ! ” 

“ That is not long.” 

“ No ; but I cannot tell what father will do. He 
may compel me to come back to the farm.” 

“ No, he will not. I am sure of that. I will 
get father after him. He will fix him ! ” 

“ But would your father take time and trouble to 
do that ? ” 

Father ? You don’t know him. I will tell you 
now, confidentially, that he has expressed great ad- 
miration for you, and I know, if you choose medi- 
cine, he will want to take you into his office as 
student.” 

Reuben’s heart leaped with joy at this announce- 
ment, and next instant trembled with fear that the 
report was too good to be true. His mind instantly 
cleared the two years or more of preparatory study, 
and he found himself picturing the happiness he 
should experience in studying medicine under Dr. 
McGrew’s tutelage, Jim himself, by that time, in 
the same office a young graduate of medicine, and 
a great helper to him in his endeavors to score a 
high grading. 

With head resting upon the back of the big 
chair in which he sat he closed his eyes for a few 
minutes of delightful reverie. He opened his eyes, 
expecting to see Jim facing him as he was when 


310 


Reuben. 


he closed them, but instead he met the smiling gaze 
of Miss Jessie, and instead of the gray dawn of ap- 
proaching day the full glare of broad daylight filled 
the room. 

“ Come now,” she said, softly, motioning him to 
silence; “father is asleep. Jim is asleep on the 
couch, and breakfast has been kept warm for you. 
Go up to Jim’s room; you will find every thing 
there for you, and when ready come down.” 

He did not dare to say a word in protest, but did 
as he was bidden, wishing, however, he could slip 
away unseen and take his breakfast at Mrs. Bard’s. 
His embarrassment was greatly relieved by being 
joined a minute later by Jim, who declared he was 
not asleep at all, but heard what Jessie had said, and 
came to keep him company. 

“What do you think of me for going to sleep 
right in that chair?” 

“ A very sensible thing to do. I am glad of it.” 


The Beginning of the End. 


311 


CHAPTER XXIII. 

THE BEGINNING OF THE END. 

“ Ef Doc was here I b’lieve he’d know something 
to do. He always does.” 

“ He is coming.” 

‘‘What’s that you say? He’s coming? Yes, I 
know; but may be I’ll not be here.” 

The thin lips quivered, and a rough but pale hand 
brushed his eyes as though a mist was over them. 

“Yes. Albert is going for him. He telegraphed 
he’d come to-day.” 

“To-day!” a low, quivering sound followed the 
words, and the white coverlet trembled on the 
heaving breast of the sick father. 

“ Do you want to see him ? ” 

“Want to see him? Now, Nancy! Does your 
heart fail you, that you’ll ask me that ? ” 

“ I know,” sobbed the mother ; “ but do you 
think his coming will do you good? ” 

“Yes, yes, Nancy; yes! The touch of his soft 
hand quiets me more than medicine. To hear him 
talk makes the bones quit hurting. I’d rather he’d 
come than an angel ! ” 


312 


Reuben. 


“ Well, he will come before the sun goes down. 
He said he would.’' 

“ Did he ? ” The gray head turned slowly on 
the pillow, and the failing eyes struggled to reach 
the face of his weeping wife. He never gave up 
what he set out to do yet.” 

“Yes; to-day, before the sun sets, our son will 
be here.” 

“ Tell Albert ” — the lips trembled and the breath 
came short and quick — “ tell Albert to — ride — 
Queen, ’an — to lead Beaut’ful. They — ar’ surest.” 

“ He will,” sobbed the wife. 

“ Has he gone ?” 

“ Not yet. He’s ready.” 

“ Tell him — to bring Jessie — too, if he can.” 

“Yes, father; he will.” 

‘‘ An’ the old doctor.” 

“ Yes ; they are coming anyway.” 

“Well, I’m better now.” 

The eyes closed, and a heavy slumber settled 
upon Reuben’s father as he lay in the old farm- 
house waiting the coming of his son, who was in a 
distant city finishing his course in medicine. Five 
hours later he stood by his father’s bedside. It 
was a beautiful afternoon in September. 

“ Father ! ” Reuben’s hand pressed gently the 
rugged forehead before him. 

The eyes opened slowly, and a smile lighted the 


The Beginning of the End. 313 

dark, rough face. Both of his hands came up from 
the bed and reached out blindly. 

Here, father,” and Reuben clasped both in his. 

Both of his son’s hands were carried up by Mr. 
Ricketts and pressed against his temples, while a 
restful look relieved the hard features. 

The tender heart of the son melted, and his soul 
was stirred by the mute eloquence of this declara- 
tion of love and confidence, but the discipline of six 
years enabled him to speak calmly. 

“ Do you know me, father?” 

“Know you! My Reub ! My doctor! Yes, 
yes, yes.” 

“ How do you rest, father?” 

“ Peaceable, peaceable.” 

“ Have you any thing to say to me? Any thing 
I can do for you ? ” asked Reuben. 

“Yes. Sing — talk — pray!” 

“ We will take the last first ;” and Reuben, bend- 
ing on his knees, still pressing the brow of his aged 
parent with his hands, prayed for a lengthening 
of the days of his father, that he might on earth 
enjoy some of the sweets of faith in God. He 
arose, seemingly oblivious to all in the room. He 
seated himself on the edge of the bed and gazed 
fixedly at his father’s face. He gently slipped his 
hands downward, and grasped the trembling fingers 
of his parent. Mr. Ricketts seemed to breathe 


Reuben. 


314 

easier. While Reuben sat thus, in a room silent as 
death except the faint sound of the still labored 
breathing of his father, he heard the rustle of a 
dress, and knew by the quick respirations at his 
shoulder that some one was near him. Softly plac- 
ing both of his father’s hands in one of his, intently 
watching his face all the while, he reached the dis- 
engaged hand behind him. It was quickly pressed 
in a warm, familiar clasp for a moment and then 
released. 

The next instant his mother came and kneeled by 
his side and threw her arm about his waist, looking 
inquiringly in his eyes. 

“ God has heard, and he will live,” he said, ten- 
derly stroking the silvery hair of his mother’s head 
while she leaned forward on his knee and wept for 
joy. Another hand led her gently away. 

“ Better every way than an hour ago,” said Dr. 
McGrew, brusquely, as he critically examined Mr. 
Ricketts’s condition at Reuben’s request. “ Do 
you have to go back?” he said, speaking to 
Reuben. 

“ No,” he answered ; “ the work I did in vacation 
at the hospital and the thesis I left were deemed 
sufficient, and the diploma will be sent me. But I 
intend to take a post-graduate course this winter, 
and be ready for work next spring.” 

“Good idea! Good idea 1 ” said the older doc- 


The Beginning of the End. 315 

tor, motioning Reuben to the porch for further con- 
versation. 

Two years afterward the Shackelford Sentinel had 
this item in its local news : “ Dr. Reuben Ricketts 
has been elected dean of the College of Medicine 
connected with his alma mater. He has accepted 
the offered position, and will leave shortly to take 
charge. He is induced to take this step by a desire 
to have access to the large free hospital where many 
needy patients are cared for. His father and 
mother will remain here, and occupy the doctor’s 
beautiful residence on Court Street, which has just 
been completed. Dr. McGrew’s family will proba- 
bly follow the doctor, as the younger Dr. McGrew 
already has a larger city practice than he can man- 
age, and needs the assistance of his father, not to 
mention Mrs. Ricketts’s desire to have her parents 
near her.” 


THE END. 






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